Robert J. Cotleur, PLA, ASLA

Rob Cotleur is Founder of Cotleur & Hearing Land Planning and Landscape Architecture . He is a seasoned landscape architect with over 40 years of experience specializing in transportation landscape architecture in South Florida. Rob earned his Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University in 1984, graduating cum laude and receiving the ASLA Academic Award of Excellence.

Since 1991, Rob has been a principal at Cotleur & Hearing, leading numerous FDOT District 4 transportation projects across Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. His expertise spans landscape planning, design, environmental consulting, and construction administration. Over the past 25 years, his focus has been on transportation projects, which now account for over 95 percent of his work.

Recognized as an expert in transportation landscape architecture, Rob has played a pivotal role in developing Landscape Brand Guidelines for FDOT District 4 and the Turnpike. He has also contributed at the state level to enhance standard specifications, design manuals, and plan exhibits. His extensive design-build background includes work on tree disposition projects, such as tree relocation, preservation, pruning, and selective clearing and grubbing plans.

His portfolio includes the landscape design of high-profile roadways such as the I-95 gateway interchanges at I-595, Palm Beach Lakes, 45th Street, Blue Heron Boulevard, SR-706, CR-708, SR-76, SR-68, SR-70, and SR-60. He also designed the I-75/I-595 interchange in Broward County, the Indian Street Bridge and Jensen Beach Causeway in Martin County, and the entire 27-mile Polk Parkway in Polk County. Many of these projects had landscape budgets ranging from one million to six million dollars. Beyond FDOT, Rob has also designed projects for municipalities including Jupiter, Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Port St. Lucie, Delray Beach, Margate, and Highland Beach.

One of Rob’s notable projects is the I-75 (Alligator Alley) Environmental Education Project for FDOT District 4 at Mile Post 29 rest area in the Everglades. The site includes a wetland exhibit, arboretum, boardwalks, observation tower, plazas, passive park, educational signage, and a large alligator sculpture. Cotleur & Hearing designed the landscape features for the 12-million-dollar roadway project, along with the two-million-dollar stand-alone landscape project that followed. Construction began in the summer of 2021