About W3 Planning and Research

W3 Planning and Research was founded on a simple belief: the best development decisions are made before problems arise.

For more than 30 years, Founder and Principal David Williams has worked at the intersection of development, government, planning, economic development, and public policy. Throughout his career, he has helped guide projects ranging from commercial and industrial developments to residential communities, energy infrastructure, mining operations, airports, comprehensive plans, and economic development initiatives that have shaped communities across the United States.

David’s experience is unique because it spans both sides of the development process. He has served as a Senior Planner in one of Arizona’s fastest growing communities, Queen Creek, as Development Services Director for Yavapai County, Arizona, and as Community Development Director for San Juan County, Washington. In those roles, he was responsible for overseeing development review, zoning administration, permitting operations, building safety, long range planning, code enforcement, and regulatory compliance for thousands of projects and permits.

During his public sector career, David helped modernize development services operations, implemented technology driven permitting systems, streamlined regulatory processes, and led initiatives that reduced permit turnaround times while improving customer service. He played a key role in the creation of innovative housing programs that expanded affordable homeownership opportunities and helped bring new jobs, investment, and critical services to rural communities through strategic economic development efforts.

His experience includes leadership roles in disaster recovery, community redevelopment, comprehensive planning, zoning ordinance modernization, building code adoption, legislative drafting, and statewide policy development. As President of the Arizona County Planning Directors Association, David worked with jurisdictions throughout Arizona to strengthen planning practices, share resources, and address emerging land use and development challenges.

Over the course of his career, David has overseen more than 50,000 residential, commercial, and industrial permits and reviewed more than 1,000 entitlement cases. Through W3 Planning and Research, he has completed more than 300 zoning and due diligence reports and participated in the evaluation of projects representing more than $1.5 billion in commercial asset value.

Today, W3 Planning and Research provides commercial due diligence, zoning verification reports, development intelligence, entitlement analysis, and strategic advisory services for investors, lenders, title companies, attorneys, developers, and institutional organizations nationwide.

Unlike traditional report providers, W3 does not view its work as simply delivering information. We view our role as a strategic partner, helping clients identify risks, uncover opportunities, and make informed decisions before capital is committed. Our goal is to identify potential concerns early, when solutions are still available and costly mistakes can still be avoided.

Because successful projects are rarely the result of chance. They are the result of informed decisions made early in the process.