Julianne Shaw

I started my career working with architects in Idaho beginning in 1991-1992. After about a decade in architecture, where I was working toward becoming an architect through an internship program, I faced a turning point when the firm wouldn't support my exam preparation schedule despite three years of support. I decided to move on and saw an opportunity with the city of Nampa in 2002 for someone to write their design review ordinance. It was perfect because it combined the design aspect, the legal aspect, and the governmental aspect. In writing that ordinance, I worked with cities from the East Coast and the West Coast to make sure we did it right for the community. It taught me a lot about what a planner has to do to work with the community to get these laws and ordinances in place so that you can benefit them and not just control them. I was inspired by a woman who worked for Boise City doing design review, and I admired her so much that when opportunities came up, I pursued them. I earned my Community and Regional Planning Certificate from Boise State University in 2009. I continued working in planning until I retired in 2021, having spent my career helping communities develop thoughtful design and planning guidelines.