Over the Fourth of July weekend, California lost a wonderful man, a talented planner, and an amazing mentor who changed the landscape of California. Larry Mintier avidly sought economic and environmental balance and succeeded in promoting both in his planning efforts across California, north to south and east to west. He was the primary author of the first comprehensive edition of the General Plan Guidelines published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, in the early 1980’s. He and his partner at Mintier Harnish, Jim Harnish, completed the Modoc County General Plan in 1988 and the Healdsburg General Plan in 1987. There were many other General Plans completed by Larry while at Mintier Harnish, from Fresno to Union City, up to and including the Sacramento General Plan in 2009, which won an APA award for general excellence.
Many are devastated by his loss and extend their love sympathy to his wife Shelly and two amazing daughters, Sophie Mintier and Jillian Tiede. Both talented women followed Larry in their own careers, in some respect. Sophie is a planner for San Mateo County, and Jillian is an engineer for Los Angeles County.
Here’s the bottom line. Larry was the guy you sought out for major planning projects and his creativity is evidenced across the state. He was part of a spectacular Office of Planning and Research team under Governor Jerry Brown, part I, that included Barry Steiner, Peter Detwiler, Dennis Castrillo, Dick Damm, Bill Abbott and many other talented planners and lawyers.
RIP, Larry. You left a lasting legacy and California is better because of you.