Our People
Dave Anderson
Director of Land Use & Entitlements
A professional engineer with “a green heart,” Dave joined Drenner Group because of his belief that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. His experience as the City of Austin Planning Commissioner informs his perspective on client development in Austin and Central Texas, while strengthening our ability to move zoning and permitting applications forward.
He has served as an advisor to government officials on a wide range of topics — environmental policies on the U.S.-Mexico border, urban infill issues in Austin, and water supply issues for agricultural irrigators in rural Texas. Today, Dave consults with public and private entities on progressive code and ordinance development, while taking a leadership role in urban planning and development issues.
His core competencies include:
- Sustainability
- Strategic planning
- Urban development
- Infrastructure design and construction
- Environmental policy
- Land conservation
- Community and regional planning
A professional engineer with a master’s degree in water resource planning, Dave communicates on a peer level with other engineers on the client development team. He’s also fluent in the language of architects, landscape architects, our entitlement and transactional attorneys, government officials and community groups, which helps mitigate risk and streamlines development for more cost-efficiency.
When he’s not working, Dave enjoys dinner or drinks with friends, running the Austin hike and bike trail, playing soccer and riding his bike. He returns to Colorado a few times a year and loves hiking and snowshoeing with his nieces and Bernese Mountain Dogs, Ben and Bella. He lives in Central Austin.
Experience
- Director of Land Use — Drenner Group (2014-present)
- Principal | Founder — The FORM Collaborative (2011-present)
- Planning Commissioner — City of Austin (2009-2014)
- Client Services Manager — CDM Smith (2012-2013)
- Client Account Manager | Office Leader — Black & Veatch (2008-2012)
- Independent Consultant — Green Canary Sustainability Consulting (2008-2011)
- Chairman — City of Austin Environmental Board (2002-2008)
- Business Development Director/Central Texas Water — URS Corporation (2005-2008)
- Senior Project Manager — URS Corporation (2003-2005)
- Project Engineer — Kellogg, Brown & Root (2001-2003)
Professional certifications and affiliations
- Professional Engineer registered in the State of Texas
- American Academy of Water Resources Engineers Diplomate-Water Resources Engineer
- Appointed to the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (U.S. EPA Federal Advisory Group) in 2011
- Former Chairman of City of Austin Planning Commission
- Former Chairman of City of Austin Environmental Board
- Vice President on the Board of Directors for Envision Central Texas
- Board of Directors for the Hill Country Conservancy
- McBee Fellow with the Austin Area Research Organization
Professional recognition and honors
- 2008 recipient of the Austin Under 40 award for professional/community leadership in Science and Technology
- Graduate of Leadership Austin Class of 2004
Education
- M.S. in Water Resources Engineering — University of Texas at Austin
- B.S. in Engineering — Colorado School of Mines