Our TEam

Ben Hitchings, FAICP, CZO, is the Principal of Green Heron Planning, LLC and Past President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC). He has 30 years of experience working on planning issues, and has developed award-winning plans at the local and regional level. 

Ben previously served as Planning Director for the Town of Chapel Hill, NC, Planning Director for the Town of Morrisville, NC, and Land Use Program Manager for the Triangle J Council of Governments. He is a current adjunct faculty member and fellow at the University of North Carolina’s School of Government.

Ben is past Chair of the APA Chapter Presidents Council, and serves on the APA National Board of Directors.

He holds a B.A. from Amherst College and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2018, Ben was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

PARTNERSHIPS: With planning contacts throughout North Carolina and across the country, Green Heron partners with leading planning professionals as needed to assemble the right team for your project.