When it comes to creating vibrant, sustainable, and well-connected communities, this team at the civil engineering firm helps towns across South Central Pennsylvania achieve measurable progress toward their long-term goals.
On a warm fall afternoon in Delta, children slip down the slide at a new playground as parents chat in the shade of a recently installed gazebo. The sound of laughter mixes with the rhythmic tap of footsteps as neighbors pass by on the Borough’s new sidewalks. Residents of all ages enjoy the park’s accessible design and peaceful green space.
What was once an underused parcel of land has been transformed into a vibrant community gathering place, complete with parking, benches, and modern playground equipment, thanks to a collaboration between the Borough and C.S. Davidson’s (CSD) Planning Department.
Turning data into action
Led by Planning Manager Jessica Fieldhouse, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and supported by Urban Planners Michael Shenk, Ben Dinkel, and Cecelia Wilson, the department provides the comprehensive planning, zoning, data analysis, and grant-writing expertise that helps South Central Pennsylvania municipalities make informed, lasting decisions.
“The Planning Department at CSD focuses on providing value-add services to our municipal clients,” Jessica says.
One of its foundational services is helping municipalities develop a comprehensive plan, which provides primary policy guidance to a local government. It covers land use, transportation, housing, natural and cultural resources, and community facilities. It also identifies future needs and offers recommendations to help guide policymaking.
Preparing such an in-depth, far-reaching document requires not only time but data. The Planning Department’s work is deeply analytical, rooted in information that helps municipalities understand how their land regulations, housing stock, and infrastructure align with the community’s needs.
“As an example, we can tell our rural municipal governments how effective their land regulations have been in preserving agriculture and open space,” Jessica says. “From our data analysis, we identify key priorities, then discuss and validate them with the community. Because this process is highly transparent, the resulting priorities are community-backed, which makes our projects highly competitive in the grant world.”
Local focus, lasting impact
While other firms might spread their services across wide regions, CSD intentionally keeps its planning work local, focused on York, Gettysburg, Lancaster, and Harrisburg.
“Our goal is to provide our municipalities with the resources they need to make great decisions for the future of their jurisdictions,” Jessica says.
For Benjamin Dinkel, that community impact is what drew him to planning in the first place.
“I’ve always wanted to make improvements in my community,” he says. “With planning, we can make tangible differences in improving people’s lives.”
Cecelia Wilson also finds purpose in helping to bring plans to life. The New Freedom native enjoys seeing revitalization take place where she grew up and knowing that she had a hand in making it a reality.
For Michael Shenk, who left a job in finance to pursue urban planning and sustainability, the reward lies in creating a better future for his three daughters.
“Planning has an outsized effect on how we use our natural resources and build the infrastructure for the future,” he says. “We want to help our government work better for people and show that it improves people’s lives in a pretty drastic way.”
Where collaboration meets efficiency and sustainability
The four-person Planning Department thrives on collaboration. Whether the planners work with one another, CSDs team of engineers, or the elected officials and employees of a municipality, each person has ideas. Every comprehensive plan and feasibility study that CSD develops blends data-driven analysis with human-centered engagement.
Finally, public surveys, stakeholder interviews, and community meetings give everyone a voice in shaping a municipality’s future.
“Community outreach and education are huge foundations of planning,” Jessica says. “At the end of the day, if we’re not capturing the will of the people, the plans we’re coming up with don’t stand a chance of being implemented.”
Sustainability and efficiency also are a growing focus for the team. In every project, it concentrates on using resources, whether monetary, natural, or physical, in the optimal way.
Real-world results
The Planning Department’s work can be seen throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Delta offers one recent example.
“If someone were to compare Delta Borough between 2015 and 2025, there is a marked difference,” Jessica says. “That’s absolutely because of planning and because of implementation through grant work, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
The team’s projects range from park improvements and pedestrian connections to downtown revitalization and municipal building upgrades. As the department grows, the planners are focused on expanding their reach and resources.
“CSD takes pride in everything we do,” Benjamin says. “We deliver excellence and we have for more than 100 years.”
