Shane Dettman is an urban planner focusing on zoning, land use, urban design, and environmental and historic preservation regulatory compliance. Based in the firm’s Washington DC office, Shane works with the firm’s nationally recognized development, land use, and zoning attorneys, supporting clients as they acquire, plan, and develop real estate projects. With more than 20 years in urban planning, Shane brings a broad and holistic perspective to land use projects. Shane is known for providing skilled, detailed planning, zoning, and design analysis, and has significant knowledge in federal and local environmental and historic preservation regulatory compliance, and routinely provides qualified expert testimony before the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment, the D.C. Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Review Board, the Mayor’s Agent for Historic Preservation, and the D.C. Council.
Before entering the legal industry, Shane was an urban planner with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the federal government's central planning agency in the National Capital Region for over 13 years. While at the NCPC, Shane played key roles in updating the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital: Federal Elements and in developing the Monumental Core Framework Plan, a long-range plan to revitalize federal office precincts surrounding the National Mall. While part of NCPC's Physical Planning Division, Shane served as a subject matter authority on zoning and land use matters related to foreign missions in the District of Columbia. He also served as the NCPC representative on the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment. Shane’s experience also includes serving as senior planner, and eventually director, of the NCPC's Urban Design and Plan Review Division, overseeing the review of several complex projects, including the development of installation master plans, large-scale infrastructure projects, and major commemorative works.
Prior to joining Goulston & Storrs, Shane was the Director of Planning Services in the Washington DC office of a global law firm.
*Shane Dettman is not an attorney
