Don Schmitz

Professional History

Prior to establishing his own consultancy, Mr. Schmitz served as a California Coastal Commission’s South Coast District principal planner on public and private development projects, and coordinator for access and wetlands matters. He has worked within the coastal communities of Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Avalon, Playa Vista, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Seal Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Carpenteria, unincorporated South Laguna Beach, Irvine Cove, Newport Dunes, Santa Ana River, and Sunset Beach. He has also practiced extensively in many non-coastal jurisdictions including the counties of San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, and the cities of Los Angeles, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Vista, Santa Clarita, and Moorpark. As the founder and President of Schmitz & Associates, Inc., Mr. Schmitz has led the start up, management representation, and successful entitlement of over a thousand land development projects, including retail, office and commercial developments, equestrian centers, resorts, residential subdivisions, lot line adjustments, estate homes, multifamily residences, agricultural uses, shoreline protection devices, infrastructure improvements (including sewer mains and treatment plants), roads and bridges, and restoration projects.

Integrating decades of technical planning skills, a creative and sensitive design approach, and a keen understanding of the regulatory standards, policies, and procedures, Mr. Schmitz oversees and manages a team of talented and experienced planners, architects, biologists, engineers, and geologists on these projects from inception to public hearing and through condition compliance. Schmitz & Associates, Inc.’s track record of successful advocacy of its client’s projects demonstrates Mr. Schmitz’s expansive, cultivated, and effective working relationships with government planners, elected officials, Planning and Coastal Commissioners. Mr. Schmitz is an acknowledged expert on the Coastal Act, California Subdivision Map Act, CEQA/NEPA, fire safety issues, and state Water Code. His work as an expert witness and litigation consultant has been pivotal in numerous landmark legal proceedings, including cases dealing with Coastal Act policies, improper regulatory denial of entitlements, takings damages, prescriptive rights, land use related escrow and contractual disputes, and standard of care disputes.

Long committed to public service, Mr. Schmitz is the founder and president of the Coalition for Fire Safe Communities (CFSC) and the Fifth Amendment Rights Alliance (FARA), was an appointed member and chairman of the City of Malibu Trails Committee, and was the chairman of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce. He is also a founding member of the Recreation and Equestrian Coalition (REC), and a long-term member of the American Planning Association and the California Farm Bureau.

Mr. Schmitz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of California Santa Barbara, a Master’s degree in Geography with an emphasis in land use planning from the California State University Long Beach, and has taught college courses in these fields as an adjunct professor. He is an accomplished public speaker, and is often invited to make presentations on planning and land use issues in various public forums.

In addition, Mr. Schmitz owns Malibu Solstice Vineyard which produces award winning private reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Wine. The vineyard was planted in 1990’s and is located in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking Malibu and the Pacific Ocean.