WELCOME TO URBAN SOLUTIONS
UrbanSolutions Planning & Land Development Consultants Inc. is a team of professionals specializing in securing development approvals for a broad range of residential, commercial, mixed use, institutional and industrial uses. Having proven success with urban infills and public consultation, our firm has over 50 years of combined experience providing planning services to the public and private sectors throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and Southwestern Ontario.
As the premier planning consulting firm operating from Hamilton, Ontario, UrbanSolutions understands development within the municipal approvals context. We are well positioned to assist at the early onset of conceptual ideas and carry projects through the municipal review process to secure final approval. We take a comprehensive and supportive approach to the planning process that is unique to our client’s needs. Our planners cultivate strong relationships with clients, community members and municipal staff, working cooperatively to achieve development results.
Meet the Team
Sergio Manchia, MCIP, RPP
Principal
As a planner and member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute since 1996, Mr. Manchia is responsible for representing the interests of developer clients, both public and private, through the planning and development process. He works closely with senior planners and engineers in coordinating all aspects of the development process starting at the initial design through Municipal approval to engineering design, registration, construction and budget analysis. Mr. Manchia is responsible for negotiations and liaison with the various levels of Government and technical review agencies including coordinating the efforts of other professionals, which include surveyors, engineers, landscape architects and lawyers.
Mr. Manchia has been before many Municipal and Regional Councils including Municipal Planning and Development Committees and the Ontario Municipal Board. Mr. Manchia holds nearly 30 years of development planning experience along with a solid business background and knowledge associated with the growth of his previous and existing firm. He directly manages large development portfolios on behalf of a variety of clientele, oversees a staff at UrbanSolutions, and is a very active member within the Hamilton community taking part in numerous volunteer projects and associations.
Matt Johnston, MCIP, RPP
Principal
As a Principal, Mr. Johnston is independently responsible for representing the interest of development clients, both public and private, through the planning and development process. In addition to consulting, Mr. Johnston utilizes experience gained working for development corporations and in public sector municipal planning departments to assist clients in achieving their development objectives. With his varied experience, Mr. Johnston leads teams of consultants and coordinates all aspects of the development process starting at the initial conceptual design through to the final Municipal approval stages. In addition to the planning and development process, Mr. Johnston is responsible for conducting a wide range of land use planning studies for public and private sector clients.
Mr. Johnston is responsible for negotiations and liaison with various levels of Government and technical review agencies as well as leading and coordinating consulting teams comprised of other professionals such as lawyers, engineers and surveyors. This area of practice has brought Mr. Johnston before many municipal and regional committees and councils, conservation authorities and the Ontario Municipal Board as an expert witness.
Mr. Johnston was the 2018 President of the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association where he continues to dedicate his knowledge, time and energy. In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays!
Nabila Azzabi, MM
Accounting Analyst and Office Administrator
Ms. Azzabi recently moved to Canada from Morocco. Ms. Azzabi is in charge of coordinating office operations to ensure that clients and staff are taken care of while also providing support to the Finance Team. Nabila graduated from an esteemed Business School in Morocco and has a Master’s in Management Controlling from the University of Bordeaux (France). She has worked for more than fifteen years in the Finance industry for international companies where she has accrued extensive experience in Financial reporting and internal audit. Ms. Azzabi speaks Arabic, French, and English. In her spare time, she enjoys discovering the GTA, reading, and playing with her cat.
June Ma, CPA, CGA
Controller
Ms. Ma recently joined UrbanSolutions as the Controller. She obtained her CPA designation in 2010 and has over 15 years of professional experience in financial accounting, real estate property management, and construction management. She has extensive experience in analyzing financial reports, preparing, and maintaining construction budgeting, managing cash flow. Her education includes a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Application from Sichuan University, and Honors Diploma in Business Administration Accounting from Centennial College.
In her spare time, Ms. Ma enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, hiking, and trying out new recipes.
Annie Le, CPA, CA, MAcc
Director of Finance and Accounting
As the Director of Finance and Accounting at UrbanSolutions, Ms. Le supports the ongoing growth and success of UrbanSolutions as it relates to financial planning and reporting. She is responsible for managing cashflow and corporate accounting & finance. Ms. Le qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2016 after graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Master of Accounting. In her spare time, Ms. Le enjoys playing basketball, cheering on the Toronto Raptors and exploring diverse cuisines.
Spencer McKay, BA, CPT
Project Manager
As a Project Manager at UrbanSolutions, Mr. McKay is responsible for managing key client projects including the coordination and completion of projects on time within budget and within scope. In addition, he plays an important role with creating and revising concept plans, preparing development applications and overseeing the advancement of projects from inception through to completion.
Mr. McKay graduated with honors from the Urban & Regional Planning, GIS Technician program at Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology. During his time at Mohawk, Mr. Mckay was honoured to receive the Nova Core Computer Graphics Award as well as the Harold P. Langer Urban Design Award. He has since returned to his alma mater to instruct Advanced AutoCAD courses in the same program. Mr. McKay also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McMaster University. As a Hamilton native, Mr. McKay is thrilled to be working in his hometown here at UrbanSolutions. When away from the office, he enjoys hitting the slopes and teeing it up at local golf courses.
Scott Beedie, MCIP, RPP
Planner
Mr. Beedie is a planner with an academic background in Urban & Regional Planning and Geography. At UrbanSolutions, Mr. Beedie’s work includes writing planning justification reports for development applications, policy research, diligence investigations, project management and guiding complex projects through the Planning Act process.
Mr. Beedie received his Bachelors of Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University in 2019. Following graduation, Mr. Beedie worked briefly as a policy analyst for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the Building and Development Branch. Additionally, Mr. Beedie is proficient in strategic policy analysis, allowing him to lend his skills to ensure project objectives are realized. He has a passion for sustainable design, strategic thinking, the public realm, and the potential to make the world a better place through impactful urban design.
Outside of the office, Scott is a cinephile who loves to hike, play soccer, travel, and support his beloved Toronto Raptors.
Matthew LeBlanc, MPL, BA (Hons.)
Planner
Mr. LeBlanc is a planner with an academic background in urban planning and development. At UrbanSolutions, his work involves policy research, diligence investigations, preparing planning justification reports for development applications, and project management. Mr. LeBlanc received his Bachelor of Arts from Western University’s Urban Development Honours program in 2020 where he received the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) award for his academic achievements. In his third year of study, Mr. LeBlanc worked as a Research Analyst intern with commercial real estate firm JLL in Toronto.
Following graduation, Mr. LeBlanc attended Queen’s University in Kingston where he completed his Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialization in Land Use and Real Estate Development. During his time at Queen’s, he had the opportunity to work on several exciting projects and completed a four-month internship with the City of Kingston’s Planning Department. Outside of the office, you can find Matthew on a hike, bike ride, or trying to fix his slice on the tee block.
Stefano Rosatone, BES
Planner
Mr. Rosatone is a planner with an academic background in urban planning and environmental studies. Mr. Rosatone attended the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning to achieve his Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree. In his academic studies, Mr. Rosatone achieved a minor in geography and environmental management as well as a specialization in urban design alongside his major of Planning (Hons., Co-op). At UrbanSolutions, Mr. Rosatone’s role is comprised of conducting diligence investigations, policy research, liaison with various City Staff and project team members, and preparing materials for a range of planning application submissions.
As a result of his diverse work experience, Stefano has gained many skills and competencies in the field of planning and land development consulting. His experiences as a student intern at various local and global consulting firms has reinforced his passion for planning and has helped him find ways to implement his design knowledge to create well-informed, practical solutions. Stefano was able to achieve two co-op positions with UrbanSolutions prior to being brought on full-time, and is ecstatic to be back alongside the team at US.
Outside of work, Stefano loves to cook and play piano, but on F1 race weekends, you’ll always find him glued to the screen cheering on Scuderia Ferrari.
Laura Drennan, BA, CPT
Planning Technician
Ms. Drennan is responsible for performing design and drafting assignments regarding site plans, conceptual drawings, draft plans of subdivision and zoning bylaw schedules. She is involved in conducting research and investigations into sites to develop proposals through the municipal planning application process and onward during Ontario Land Tribunal hearings. Ms. Drennan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Brock University in 2017. At Brock University she was concerned with understanding the human world and its interaction with physical, built, and symbolic landscapes at a local, regional, and global scale.
Ms. Drennan graduated from the Urban & Regional Planning, GIS Technician program at Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology in 2019. During her time at Mohawk College she learned land use planning principles, planning law and GIS technologies. She is a full member of the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians (CACPT) and is a member of the CACPT Council, on the Merit Awards Committee and Registration Committee.
Ms. Drennan has interests in creating complete communities that are livable for all ages. She takes interest in innovative infill developments to build within gaps in the existing built environment to preserve the natural rural areas. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, gardening, and exploring Hamilton’s many waterfalls.
Stephen Erickson, CPT
Planning Technician
Mr. Erickson is a Certified Planning Technician with an academic background in Geography, Urban Planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At UrbanSolutions, Mr. Erickson’s work includes designing Concept Plans, Site Plans and Draft Plans of Subdivision, completing due diligence investigations for clients and project management. Although not by birth, Stephen is a proud Hamiltonian who moved to Hamilton in 2011 to attend McMaster University where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Geography, minoring in GIS. Following graduation from McMaster, Mr. Erickson completed the Urban and Regional Planning Technician program at Mohawk College where he learned important drafting and design skills that he uses in his day-to-day work. Stephen is passionate about urbanism, infill development and pedestrian-oriented design and looks to implement these ideas in his professional work.
Outside of the office, Stephen enjoys going to concerts, spending time with friends and family and cheering on his favourite Toronto sports teams.
James Stanley, BA (Hons.)
Planning Technician
Mr. Stanley is a planning technician with an academic background in Geography, Environmental Studies and Urban & Regional Planning. At UrbanSolutions, Mr. Stanley’s work includes assisting with planning justification reports for development applications, due diligence investigations, designing and drafting site plans, conceptual drawings, draft plans of subdivisions and assisting in preparing figures for presentations and reports.
Mr. Stanley Graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies. Following graduation, Mr. Stanley worked briefly with the Town of Oakville as an Active Transportation Engineer. Following his time at Oakville, Mr. Stanley Graduated from The Urban and Regional Planning, GIS Technician program at Mohawk College.
Outside of the office, James enjoys watching movies, playing lacrosse, cottaging, and supporting The Toronto Maple Leafs, no matter how much they hurt him.
Lucas Taibi, BA (Hons.)
Student Planning Technician
Mr. Taibi is a student planner with an academic background in Geography and Urban & Regional Planning. Mr. Taibi is currently in his second of three co-op terms that are part of the Urban and Regional Planning – GIS (Co-op) program at Mohawk College, from which he is set to graduate in April 2024. In his previous co-op experience, he gained knowledge in the field of Transportation Planning in the Town of Oakville’s Transportation Engineering Department.
Lucas is currently in his first co-op term with UrbanSolutions, where his role is comprised of conducting diligence investigations, policy research, consolidating materials for development applications, liaison with various City Staff and project team members, and assisting senior staff in the preparation and submission of various planning documents. Mr. Taibi graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography in the year 2020. At McMaster, Lucas was interested in understanding how humans interacted with built environments and pedestrian-focused urban design.
Outside of the office, Lucas loves to spend time with friends & family, mix house music, travel, play soccer and cheer on Juventus.