This Earth Day, we’re spotlighting how sustainable planning shapes the future of our communities. Kyle Harris, senior vice president of community development at McWhinney, shares how sustainability is being woven into the fabric of master-planned community design. From reimagining walkable urban villages to prioritizing pollinator habitats and resilient infrastructure, Kyle shares how developments like Baseline and Centerra are setting a new standard for environmental stewardship and innovation in community living.
Tell us about your key accomplishments in the master-planned community space and your journey to McWhinney.
Before joining McWhinney in 2016, I led the development of Granby Ranch, a 5,000-acre master-planned community just outside of Granby, Colorado. That experience gave me invaluable insight into large-scale community planning and the importance of aligning development with the natural environment. After my time there, I was ready for new opportunities and moved to Denver, where I was drawn to McWhinney’s strong vision and track record of delivering innovative communities. At McWhinney, my goal is to drive the overall success of the company’s master-planned community portfolio, including Baseline in Broomfield and Centerra in Loveland.
What is your main focus area at McWhinney?
I was brought on to reintroduce what is now Baseline to the marketplace with a fresh vision. We revisited the master plan, established guiding principles, and forged robust public-private partnerships. With an incredible team, we reimagined what the development could be and how it could best serve the needs of the region. Today, Baseline is a growing community centered on urban walkability that embodies a commitment to both placemaking and sustainability.
For Centerra, which has been underway for nearly three decades, we were looking to continue the good work that has been happening there, ensuring the community remains cohesive while heading toward its next evolution with a strong focus on adaptability and innovation. The Kinston residential neighborhood has brought new energy to the community, and now we’re focused on advancing Centerra South, a new district that will introduce more urban retail and commercial experiences to Loveland. In alignment with market demand, we began to move away from a more traditional strip mall or pad-based retail, favoring more of an urban village concept, focused on placemaking that caters not just to vehicles, but also pedestrians and cyclists. We are ultimately creating places that are unique for Loveland and Northern Colorado—places people love.
How does sustainability shape master-planned communities?
Sustainability is no longer just a feature of master-planned communities; it’s becoming the foundation for their long-term success. As we look ahead, we are rethinking everything from energy use and water conservation to urban design and mobility solutions. At Centerra in Loveland, we’ve prioritized density and walkability—revisiting the roadway infrastructure to create more of a grid—to support a more sustainable future than urban sprawl, reducing reliance on cars and fostering a stronger sense of community. These steps help ensure that our community developments are in alignment with the long-term priorities of the City and other public partners.
Future developments will take this a step further by integrating renewable energy sources, innovative building materials that enhance efficiency and longevity, and smart water management systems, especially in regions like ours. Thoughtful planning around things like plantings and irrigation can help address these issues.
We are also seeing a shift toward more regenerative design, creating communities that minimize environmental impact while actively restoring and enhancing local ecosystems. The goal is to create communities that are resilient, adaptable, and capable of meeting the challenges of climate change and resource management.
Baseline is the first certified Pollinator District™ in the world, recognized by the Butterfly Pavilion. Through this partnership, we have made significant strides in increasing pollinator populations—efforts that are crucial to our goal of improving biodiversity and ensuring the long-term resilience of the community.
What other factors are important in master-planned community planning?
There are several essential factors in forward-thinking master-planned community planning. Achieving higher densities is crucial for sustainability. Higher-density developments are more conducive to walking and biking, reducing reliance on cars.
One significant barrier to higher-density development is the perception of increased traffic among residents. While, unsurprisingly, traffic is likely to increase in tandem with growth, it is mathematically better to concentrate development in higher-density areas where trips per home are reduced, rather than introducing sprawl into suburban rings where residents have fewer choices for transportation and more need for frequent car trips. Educating the community about the benefits of density and the need to release supply constraints is half the battle.
There is also growing demand for a broader spectrum of housing options beyond traditional front-loaded single-family detached homes. This includes paired homes, condos, apartments, and alley-loaded housing. By incorporating a variety of housing types, we can create vibrant and sustainable communities that appeal to a wider range of people.
Finally, the most successful master-planned communities are typically the result of strong public-private partnerships. A good public-private partnership is mutually beneficial and helps preserve what makes a community special while anticipating future needs, from preserving open spaces to contributing to public infrastructure. These collaborative efforts help ensure that communities are not only vibrant, interesting, and aesthetically pleasing but also set up for success long into the future. Master-planned developments are decades-long projects, so to get strong partners, the community, and municipalities on board, you need to have a track record that shows that you have done it before and done it well.
What trends do you see shaping the next 5-10 years in master-planned community development?
The definition of community amenities is shifting. Trails and open spaces remain highly sought-after, but schools, town centers, and other communal spaces are now seen as foundational. More than just the pool and tennis courts, people want more opportunities for authentic connection as well.
Infrastructure is also increasingly recognized as an essential community component. Affordable and attainable housing depends on a strong infrastructure framework, including utilities and multimodal transit options. Higher densities make alternative forms of transportation more feasible, yet most suburban areas still lack the density required to support public transit. If we want to ensure access to affordable housing, we must embrace density, release supply constraints, expand transit options, and expand funding through programs like Colorado Housing and Finance Authority tax credits. Allowing the market to do what the market needs to do can help create meaningful progress in affordability.
