Michael Slater
Planning, Design & Arboriculture
Our built environment is not sustainable, not healthy, and often not very attractive. We need to do better. Fortunately, we have a wealth of tools, policies, and proven designs to improve the quality of our cities and towns. Let's get to work.
Welcome
​I'm Michael Slater.​ I am involved in the planning, design, and management of the built environment. My focus is on the intersection of urban planning, landscape design, and ecology.
I graduated from the University of Oregon's College of Design with a Master's in Community and Regional Planning and a graduate certificate in ecological design. I am also an ISA-certified arborist.
Please visit the About, Resume, or Portfolio pages to learn more about me and my expertise.
Things I Do
If we're fortunate, we get to choose how to fill up our days and make them meaningful. In addition to my home life, I spend my time on three things.
I design public and private spaces that allow people to enjoy the outdoors, engage their senses, and gain a sense of peace. My designs are plant-forward and tailored to the site's conditions and the client's ability to care for them for the long-term. Some of my work can be found in the portfolio page of this website.
I recently graduated with a Master's of Community and Regional Planning and graduate certificate in Ecological Design from the University of Oregon's College of Design. My concentration is in ecological design.I also take classes in arboriculture to maintain my ISA certification.
I am the current president of the Salem Planning Commission and have served on the Commission since 2021. I also serve on Salem's Climate Action Committee. I previously served on the Board of Temple Beth Sholom. I co-founded the Mission Street Parks Conservancy and served as its full-time president between 2018 and 2021.