About

Vernon Land Use, LLC provides community planning, economic development, environmental, and program and policy analysis services for clients to strategically achieve the highest and best use of land. Focused on community redevelopment and business expansion opportunities for private and public sector organizations, the firm’s services are tailored specific to client needs. 

The firm was established in 2010 by Tracey Vernon after holding supervisory, project management, and technical positions at private consulting firms and state agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 25 years.   

Tracey’s private consulting experience is focused on land use, predominantly environmental planning and permitting and economic and community development. Serving as Principal at Sawhill, Michel & Phillips, Associates, a New Jersey based environmental planning firm, Tracey managed environmental permits and approvals for residential, commercial, recreational, and waterfront projects. Tracey served as Sr. Project Manager and Corporate Marketing Representative at L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Inc. where she managed permits, approvals, and fieldwork for environmental projects in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey.  At Delta Development Group, Inc., Tracey managed community and economic planning, real estate development, and information technology projects. 

Tracey’s public sector experience includes economic development and environmental protection.  Tracey served as Deputy Director of Regional Offices for Pennsylvania’s Governor’s Action Team, housed within the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). In this position she managed regional staff in Pennsylvania’s statewide economic development office as well as a portfolio of economic development projects for companies seeking to expand in or locate to the Commonwealth.  She provided Governor’s Action Team representation on DCED policy issues and initiatives such as the Governor’s Executive Order on Land Use, the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, and Team Pennsylvania including development and implementation of the Business Calling Program, a statewide business retention strategy.  

Tracey served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the Office of Community Revitalization and Local Government Support within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). As part of the Department’s Executive Staff, she oversaw budget, personnel, and policy issues as directed by the Department Secretary and Governor’s Office. Tracey served as Director of Pennsylvania’s Brownfield Action Team, a statewide program promoting the redevelopment of formerly utilized properties. She also conducted statewide program outreach and participated in developing program guidelines for the Pennsylvania Conservation Works! Program.