Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates

What Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates does

Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates (PLSA) is a privately held civil engineering and land development consulting firm founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The firm delivers four integrated service lines: civil engineering design, land planning and entitlement, land surveying and mapping, and stormwater management. It serves landowners, real estate developers, and public agencies across residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, K-12 education, and public infrastructure project types in Southern California, with offices in San Diego, Encinitas, and Orange County (Dana Point).

PLSA's technical capabilities rely on industry-standard civil and surveying software (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Carlson, Bluebeam, Trimble Business Center, Trimble Access, Trimble IBSS) combined with robotic total stations, laser measurement tools, and network GPS systems for surveying. Differentiated technical depth centers on stormwater management: continuous simulation modeling using the EPA's Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), hydromodification management plans, California SMARTS application preparation, WDID filings, and proprietary treatment designs including TreePod Biofilters and bioretention BMPs. The leadership team comprises seven professionals, six of whom hold P.E. licenses, with decades of collective regulatory and design experience.

The firm operates a project-based professional services revenue model, billing through engineering service agreements, hourly consulting, and fixed-fee arrangements for entitlements, construction documents, and stormwater compliance deliverables. Sales are driven by direct, relationship-based engagement by principals and senior leadership, supported by longstanding memberships in ASCE, BIA, CLSA, ULI, ICSC, NAOIP, and other industry organizations. Customer mix is diversified across enterprise residential developers (Shea Homes, Lennar, William Lyon Homes), hospitality operators (OTO Development), healthcare systems (Kaiser Permanente), and municipal clients (Cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, Vista Unified School District). PLSA expanded into Orange County in 2016 via the acquisition of Charles Hartman & Associates, which now operates as a PLSA Company serving that region.

Name

Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates

Legal name

Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates

Website

https://plsaengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates (PLSA) is a privately held Southern California civil engineering and land development consulting firm founded in 1986, delivering integrated civil engineering, land planning, surveying, and stormwater management services to real estate developers, landowners, and public agencies from offices in San Diego, Encinitas, and Orange County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Land Subdivision (2372), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJANAC

Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support)

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Advisory & Consulting (Investment, Strategy)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Land development consulting
• Land surveying mapping
• Stormwater management design
• Entitlement land planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Solana Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Land Development Consulting Services: PLSA generates revenue through professional consulting fees for civil engineering, land planning, land surveying and mapping, and stormwater management services provided to landowners, real estate developers, and public agencies. Revenue is project-based, billed through engineering service agreements, hourly consulting, and fixed-fee arrangements for specific deliverables such as entitlement packages, construction documents, and stormwater compliance reports.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PLSA provides integrated land development consulting services to landowners, real estate developers, and public agencies across Southern California. Its service portfolio encompasses civil engineering design, land planning and entitlements, land surveying and mapping, and stormwater management/water resources, delivered from project inception through construction administration.

Product overview

Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates (PLSA) is a civil engineering and land development consulting firm that offers four integrated service lines: Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Land Surveying + Mapping, and Stormwater Management. These services work together to support clients through the complete development cycle from preliminary planning and entitlement through civil engineering design and construction administration. The firm specializes in Southern California land development for residential, retail/office, hospitality, mixed-use, K-12 education, and public space projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Charles Hartman & Associates: Civil engineering firm acquired by PLSA in 2016, now operating as a PLSA Company serving Orange County

Products and services

• Civil Engineering Comprehensive civil engineering design and consulting services including site development, grading, drainage, utility systems, and construction administration for residential, commercial, and public projects throughout Southern California.
• Land Planning Entitlement consulting services delivered by comprehensive entitlement strategists and designers, covering master planned communities, general plan amendments, zone changes, specific plans, and conditional use permits for land development projects.
• Land Surveying + Mapping Professional land surveying services utilizing robotic instruments, laser measurements, and network GPS for boundary surveys, topographic mapping, construction staking, and land subdivision.
• Stormwater Management Stormwater management design and planning services including Storm Water Quality Management Plans, continuous simulation modeling, drainage reports, hydromodification management plans, SWPPP/QSD services, and California SMARTS application preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 17th largest Civil Engineering firm in San Diego County by the San Diego Business Journal based on licensed Professional Engineers (2015)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers34 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shea HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2023PLSA serves as civil engineer for Fox Point Farms by Shea Homes in Encinitas, CA. PLSA's Jason Santos chairs the BIA y|Gen board. Project team includes Steinberg Hart, Starck Architecture + Planning, Schmidt Design Group, Farmer D Consulting, and Tecture.
• San Diego Architectural FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA collaborated with the San Diego Architectural Foundation on The Duke project in Banker's Hill, which received the 2017 Orchid Architectural Award.
• Melia HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided entitlement consulting for Melia Homes' 14-unit community in Encinitas, representing the first subdivision approved in the city since a BIA density bonus lawsuit settlement.
• Hammer VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided surveying and civil engineering design services for Greenstone Rowhomes in Banker's Hill, a 10-unit multi-family condominium project led by Hammer Ventures.
• Charles Hartman & AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharles Hartman & Associates, a PLSA company, provides civil engineering and stormwater management design for Orange County projects including Dahlia Court. PLSA expanded into Orange County in 2016 by welcoming Charles Hartman and his team.
• City of EncinitasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA works with City of Encinitas staff on planning approvals and permitting for various residential and commercial projects, including the first subdivision approved in Encinitas since a density bonus settlement.
• Vista Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Vista Unified School District, Alpha Studio Design Group, and Erickson-Hall Construction on the Rancho Buena Vista High School CTE building project, funded by Measure LL ($247M bond).
• RhodesMoore, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA worked closely with RhodesMoore, LLC and Frontier Management on the senior housing project in Clairemont, San Diego—the first senior housing project in the community in 35 years.
• Westmont LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided land surveying, civil engineering, and construction staking services for Westmont of Encinitas senior living facility along South El Camino Real.
• Fenway Capital AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided planning and engineering services for Marea Village in Encinitas for client Fenway Capital Advisors and the Leucadia community. Project includes new shops, apartments, hotel, and artist studio spaces.
• OnPoint DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA is in planning stages with OnPoint Development and Smith Consulting Architects for a 68,000 sq ft industrial building on 5 acres in Escondido.
• Tideline PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Tideline Partners on Terrace Lofts in Vista, the first micro-unit project in the city. Features include 42 micro-units with balconies, bicycle lockers, and e-bike charging.
• Mana InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA is working with Mana Investments on a residential in-fill micro-unit project in La Jolla Village, featured in the San Diego Business Journal.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Kaiser Permanente, DPR Construction, Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells, and LdG Landscape Architects on the Kaiser Clairemont Mesa medical office building.
• Noah HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA is part of the development team for the $6.7M memory care development in Spring Valley led by Noah Homes and HomeAid San Diego, designed specifically for adults with developmental disabilities.
• HomeAid San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partners with HomeAid San Diego on charitable projects including the memory care development in Spring Valley.
• Hanna Gabriel Wells ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationPLSA provided civil engineering design for the Moda Sorrento Technology Center modernization for Hanna Gabriel Wells Architects, including retrofitting the complex to comply with current stormwater regulations using TreePod Biofilters.
• Murfey ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Murfey Construction on Crest Urban Apartments (35-unit multi-family in Hillcrest), The Famosa mixed-use project, and The Pointe mixed-use development in Pacific Beach.
• Surfside ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA was a member of the development team led by Surfside Projects for Avocado Acres custom home in Leucadia, providing complete civil engineering and land surveying services.
• OTO DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with OTO Development on Mission Valley SpringHill Suites (135-key hotel on 2-acre infill site) and SpringHill Suites El Segundo (4 over 2 podium hotel with subterranean parking).
• HomeAid EssentialsminorOthersPLSA participated in HomeAid Essentials' Builders for Babies Diaper Drive event, donating over 1,000 diapers in support of families experiencing homelessness in Southern California.
• City of EncinitascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided civil engineering design services for Moonlight State Beach revitalization including new concessions building, lifeguard garage, restrooms, and associated infrastructure, and is working on Phase 2 Marine Safety Center.
• City of Solana BeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with City of Solana Beach and Van Dyke Landscape Architects on the La Colonia Veterans Honor Courtyard public project.
• Civita (Allied Property Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided civil engineering design for the award-winning Civita Community Recreational Center in Mission Valley, designed with Bassenian Lagoni and Lifescapes International.
• Baldwin & SonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided civil engineering, surveying, and mapping services for The Oaks at Portola Hills, an 81 single-family home gated community within the master planned community of Portola Hills in Lake Forest, CA.
• California West CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA provided civil engineering design for Southern Preserve, a 52 single-family home upscale residential subdivision in Carlsbad, CA.
• Stephen Dalton ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Stephen Dalton Architects on Moonlight State Beach revitalization and Marea Village in Encinitas, providing civil engineering design services.
• Van Dyke Landscape ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLSA partnered with Van Dyke Landscape Architects on La Colonia Veterans Honor Courtyard in Solana Beach.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fuscoe Engineering: Fuscoe Engineering is a Southern California civil engineering and land development firm with offices in Irvine, San Diego, Ontario, and other SoCal cities. It offers civil engineering, surveying, GIS, and stormwater services similar to PLSA and serves overlapping residential, commercial, and public agency clients in the same regional market.
• Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering: Latitude 33 is a San Diego-based civil engineering, planning, and surveying firm with a comparable SoCal focus. Its land development, entitlement, and surveying services directly compete with PLSA's four core service lines for the same developer and public-sector clients.
• KCM Group: KCM Group is a Southern California civil engineering firm focused on land development, public works, and surveying for residential and commercial developers. Its geographic overlap with PLSA and similar mid-size scale make it a directly comparable regional competitor.
• Psomas: Psomas is a California-based engineering, planning, surveying, and construction management firm with offices across Southern California. It offers the same integrated service stack as PLSA — civil engineering, land planning, surveying — competing for similar public and private land development engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Michael Baker International: Michael Baker is a large national engineering and consulting firm with significant California presence. It competes with PLSA on civil engineering and land development projects but operates at greater scale, broader geography, and across many practice areas beyond land development.
• Harris & Associates: Harris & Associates is a California-headquartered engineering and program management firm providing civil engineering, municipal services, and surveying. It competes with PLSA on land development and public works, with broader municipal services and a larger footprint.
• Kimley-Horn: Kimley-Horn is a large national engineering, planning, and design consulting firm with strong California presence. It competes for land development civil engineering and surveying work but with significantly more practice areas, offices, and bench depth than PLSA.
• NV5 Global: NV5 is a publicly traded engineering and consulting firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services across the U.S. It competes for land development and infrastructure work in California with a much broader service portfolio and national footprint.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with extensive California operations. It competes for land development and municipal infrastructure work but with vastly greater scale, geographic reach, and integrated multi-discipline capabilities.

Regional players

• Huitt-Zollars: Huitt-Zollars is a mid-size engineering and architecture firm with offices in California and other Western states. It provides civil engineering and land development services competing with PLSA in some SoCal submarkets, though with primary presence outside the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates