Our Team

BETH THOMPSON
Ms. Thompson is a Principal Planner with De Novo Planning Group with over 14 years of experience. Her responsibilities include senior review of environmental documents, environmental planning, policy document preparation, and contract planning. She specializes in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance.  Ms. Thompson’s experience includes land use and development projects, including residential and commercial developments, resort, hospital, and school projects, as well as environmental review for long-range planning projects, including general plans, specific plans, agricultural policies, transportation and infrastructure, and housing elements. Ms. Thompson has provided grant writing and administration services, including compliance with federal overlay requirements, program design and implementation, and funding applications. She has overseen the establishment of CDBG entitlement communities and managed the implementation of those cities’ CDBG programs.  She developed and administered the $40-million Affordable Housing Fund for the City of Elk Grove and underwrote loans for over 500 housing units.  Ms. Thompson is a capable educator and has provided environmental training, including project management, CEQA implementation, and CEQA case law guidance. Ms. Thompson graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Resource Sciences.

STEVE MCMURTRY
Mr. McMurtry is a Principal Planner with De Novo Planning Group and is responsible for project management, preparation of environmental documents, land use plans, air quality modeling, biological assessments, LESA modeling, and regulatory permitting. He has successfully led multidisciplinary teams to complete over 70 environmental, land use planning, and development projects in 18 California counties. Mr. McMurtry’s experience includes service in engineering and planning firms, as well as in the building industry. He has managed large Specific Plans and EIRs with complex transportation, water, wastewater, and infrastructure issues. He has experience with jobs/housing studies, housing supply/demand economic studies, market analysis, and forecasting. He has formed and implemented Area of Benefit Districts, Community Facilities Districts, and Assessment Districts as a financing solution for capital improvements. During his tenure in the building industry, he was responsible for projects valued over $300 million, which included the development of parks, trails, open space systems, and capital improvement projects that were dedicated to municipal agencies. He formed and served as the President of three Property Owners Associations with a membership of over 600 property owners. Mr. McMurtry graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management with graduate studies in Biological Sciences at San Jose State University.

BEN RITCHIE
Mr. Ritchie is a Principal Planner with De Novo Planning Group and is responsible for the management of complex CEQA and NEPA projects, climate action plans, sustainable policy development, general plan updates, specific plans, redevelopment plans, and municipal service reviews.  His experience includes residential, commercial, mixed-use, transportation, annexation and redevelopment projects throughout California. He has extensive knowledge of CEQA and has assisted jurisdictions in drafting and updating their local CEQA implementation guidelines.  Mr. Ritchie has served as an Environmental Coordinator for municipalities, which included oversight of an Environmental Planning Division. He developed a partnership with the Attorney General’s office and ICLIE- Local Governments for Sustainability to develop methodologies for local agencies to address climate change at a local level to achieve compliance with AB 32.  Mr. Ritchie is a recognized leader in the industry and has spoken at the National Association of Environmental Professionals and the Green California Summit conferences, educating practitioners on approaches to climate change planning at the local level.  Mr. Ritchie received an APA award for his work in the City of Alameda developing the City’s first Climate Action Plan. Mr. Ritchie graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) where he received the California Planning Foundation Scholarship for Academic Excellence.