"Code is King" - The City of Columbia's New Land Development Regulations

Douglas Toney is Assistant City Engineer for the City of Columbia, Tennessee. In this role Douglas performs development review and ensures that the city’s infrastructure conforms to the highest standards of safety and performance. Douglas holds degrees from the University of Tennessee. In 2018 he gained licensure as a Professional Engineer. Douglas has played an instrumental role in elevating the quality of Columbia’s built environment. In 2021 and 2022 he drafted the City’s new Subdivision Regulations and Engineering Standards & Specifications.

Austin Brass is City Planner for the City of Columbia, Tennessee. In this role he leads a team of four and oversees long-range planning, current planning, and zoning administration for one of the fastest growing jurisdictions in Tennessee. As City Planner, he serves as Zoning Administrator and is the principal advisor to the Historic Zoning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Design Review Team. Prior to joining the City of Columbia Department of Development Services he worked for municipalities in Alabama and Indiana. Austin earned a degree in Geography from the University of North Alabama and went on to study City Planning at Ball State University and Alabama A&M. In 2021 he became a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Austin has proven expertise in leveraging zoning standards and current planning processes to secure higher aesthetic standards and an improved built environment.