Will Cockrell, AICP

Principal Planner

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

Master of Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Virginia – 2005
Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning with Architecture Minor, University of Virginia – 2003
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) – 2007 to present

Will Cockrell, AICP, is a Principal Planner with EPR, P.C., helping communities across Virginia and nationwide address land use, transportation, and economic development challenges. He leads comprehensive planning and transportation planning efforts, drawing on experience in local government, regional planning, and consulting to develop practical strategies grounded in community priorities and the realities of implementation.

Before joining EPR in 2019, Will spent ten years with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, serving in roles that included Director of Planning and MPO Coordinator. He previously served as Senior Planner and Acting Director of Community Development for Louisa County. This public-sector background informs his work with local staff, elected officials, and planning commissions.

Will also serves as Director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Land Use Education Program, a Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia, and Chair of the Rural Planning Caucus of Virginia. Through these roles, he connects professional practice with education and supports the people responsible for shaping their communities.

APA Virginia has recognized his contributions with the 2018 President’s Award for Leadership, the 2024 faculty award recognizing his teaching at UVA, and the 2026 Larson Award for Distinguished Professional. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Urban and Environmental Planning from UVA.

LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Title VI and Public Participation Plan (WinFred MPO)
Growth and Accessibility Planning (GAP) Technical Assistance (Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment)
Transportation Chapter (Henrico County, VA)
Transportation Plan (Montgomery County, VA)
Transportation Master Plan (Town of Lovettsville, VA)
Transportation Master Plan (Louisa County, VA)
Transportation Chapter of Comprehensive Plan (Nelson County, VA)
Regional Connectors Study (Hampton Roads TPO)
Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan Update (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (WinFred MPO)
2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (Roanoke Valley TPO)
2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (Central Virginia TPO)
2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (Danville MPO)
2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)

MULTI-MODAL PLANNING

Transit Development Plan (Virginia Regional Transit)
Transit Development Plan (Shore Transit and Rideshare)
Transit Vision Plan for the Charlottesville Area (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Bike Share Study, Phase I-III (City of Winchester, VA)
Jefferson Area Bike and Pedestrian Plan (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Regional Transit Coordination Study (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
Bike and Pedestrian Count Initiative (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
Bike Route 76 Corridor Study (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Betty Queen Multi-Use Trail Study (Louisa County, VA)
Transit Survey Analysis (City of Charlottesville, VA)

TRAFFIC PLANNING

Candlers Mountain Road Study (City of Lynchburg, VA)
Street Conversion Impact Study (City of Fredericksburg, VA)
Smart Scale Applications (Nelson County, VA)
Smart Scale Applications (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

Comprehensive Plan (City of Staunton)
Comprehensive Plan (City of Waynesboro)
Comprehensive Plan (Montgomery County, VA)
Envision Hanover (Hanover County, VA)
Comprehensive Plan (Town of Ashland, VA)
Comprehensive Plan Survey (Town of Irvington, VA)
Engage 2045 (James City County, VA)
HUD Regional Planning Grant for Local Plans (City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, VA)
Comprehensive Plan Update (Louisa County, VA)
Comprehensive Plan Update (City of Charlottesville, VA)

SMALL AREA PLANNING

Sector Plans (City of Winchester, VA)
Ferrum Parcel Master Plan (Franklin County, VA)
Uniontown Neighborhood Action Plan (City of Staunton, VA)
West End Revitalization Strategies Plan (City of Staunton, VA)
Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (Monte Vista, CO)
Port Republic Small Area Plan (Waynesboro, VA)
Cherry Avenue Small Area Plan (City of Charlottesville, VA)
Ruckersville Small Area Plan (Greene County, VA)
Rockfish Valley Area Plan (Nelson County, VA)
Zion Crossroads Sketch Plan (Fluvanna County, VA)

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

Agrivoltaics Research and Toolkit Development (Environmental Protection Agency)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (Sutton, WV)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (Spring City, TN)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (Pittsburgh, PA)
Healthy Food Hub Feasibility Study (City of Martinsville, VA)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (Jersey City, NJ)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of New Bedford, MA)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Chattanooga, TN)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Norfolk, VA)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Pelican Rapids, MN)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Salisbury, NC)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Springfield, IL)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (Town of Pulaski, VA)
Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance (City of Duluth, MN)

LOCAL PLANNING SERVICES

Historic Preservation Design Guidelines (City of Danville, VA)
Building Blocks Technical Assistance (City of Mandan, ND)
Building Blocks Technical Assistance (City of Jennings, MO)
Building Blocks Technical Assistance (City of Chiloquin, OR)
Planning Commissioner Training (City of Waynesboro, VA)
Zoning Rewrite (Brunswick County, VA)
Development Review Assistance (Orange County, VA)
Development Review Assistance (Albemarle County, VA
Development Review (Louisa County, VA)
Zoning Code Rewrite (Louisa County, VA)

HOUSING STUDIES

Eastern Shore Regional Housing Study (Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission)
Comprehensive Housing Assessment and Market Study (City of Harrisonburg, VA)
Housing and Land-Use Inventory (City of Charlottesville, VA)
Transportation and Housing Alliance Toolkit (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Affordable Housing Committee Staff (Louisa County, VA)

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

Director of the Land Use Education Program (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Chair (Rural Planning Caucus)
MPO Coordinator (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
Rural Program Manager (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Director of Planning (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Director of Community Development, Acting (Louisa County, VA)
Vice President Positions (American Planning Association, Virginia Chapter)
Chair, Treasurer and Secretary (Virginia Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations)

FACILITATION

Economic Development Strategic Plan (Town of Ashland, VA)
Strategic Plan (Rural Planning Caucus)
Strategic Plan (Virginia Association of Zoning Officials)
Neighborhood Improvement Finance Initiative (Albemarle County, VA)
Strategic Planning (Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO)
Strategic Planning (Virginia Association of MPO)
Capital Improvement Program (City of Charlottesville, VA)

COMMUNITY DATA ANALYSIS

Community Inventory (Albemarle County, VA)
Economic Development Study (Fluvanna County, VA)
Return on Investment Study (Fluvanna County, VA)
Return on Investment Study (Louisa County, VA)
Build-Out Analysis (Fluvanna County, VA)
Build-Out Analysis (Louisa County, VA)

HAZARD MITIGATION, RESILIENCY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Northern Shenandoah Valley Planning District Commission)
Watershed Implementation Plan (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Rivanna River Corridor Plan (City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, VA)
Hazard Mitigation Plan (Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission)
Virginia and North Carolina Coastal Planning Symposium (American Planning Association, Virginia Chapter)

GRANT MANAGEMENT

Community Development Block Grant (Nelson County, VA)
Community Development Block Grant (Town of Mineral, VA)
Community Development Block Grant (Town of Columbia, VA)
Community Development Block Grant Paint Program (City of Charlottesville, VA)
Transportation and Housing Alliance Toolkit (State Agencies)