On May 30, 2024, WMPF held the 50th Annual Planning Awards Program and Dinner, an event that recognizes Outstanding Achievements in Planning in Westchester County. The Town/Village of Harrison was host to the awards at the Harrison Country Club.
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners
Planning Achievement Awards
Maple Commons | Village of Croton-on-Hudson
Maple Commons, located at 41-51 Maple Street in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson provides 33 units of housing, 29 of which are affordable to families with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the County’s Area Median Income. The project, which is located near public transportation and in a well-resourced area of the Village, included financing through New York State Homes and Community Renewal and funding from the County of Westchester through the New Homes Land Acquisition Program. It is an excellent example of planning and teamwork among various stakeholders including the Village, the developer (consisting of Regan Development Group, the Housing Action Council & Croton Housing Network), and the local community, County, and State, all of whom worked together toward a solution to the County’s critical housing needs.
Lewisboro Commons | Town of Lewisboro
Another great example of synergistic planning is Lewisboro Commons. Located at 100 Beekman Lane, Lewisboro Commons provides 42 units of affordable housing. The project serves families with incomes ranging from 50% to 60% of the County’s Area Median Income. The development team consisted of WBP Development and the Housing Action Council, and the project was financed through New York State Homes and Community Renewal (9% tax credits). The County of Westchester provided funding through its the New Homes Land Acquisition and HOME funds programs. Despite enduring six years of legal challenges, Lewisboro Commons was completed in 2023 and is fully occupied.
Cottage Place Gardens Redevelopment | City of Yonkers
The Cottage Place Gardens Redevelopment is a multi-phase redevelopment of Yonkers’ oldest and largest public housing site. Since 2010, the City of Yonkers, the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers and the designated redeveloper, The Community Builders, Inc., have worked together to transform this underserved neighborhood into a campus of energy-efficient buildings with modern, affordable apartments and new, state-of-the-art commercial spaces. The project’s first phase, Schoolhouse Terrace, replaced the long vacant former Public School #6 with a senior building and a family building containing 120 units. Each subsequent phase included the demolition of old buildings and replacement with new, modern buildings and the creation of approx. 33,000 sf of open space and play areas for residents. The project included collaboration among all levels of government, including two Empire State Development Restore NY grants, Yonkers HUD funding, Westchester County HIF funds and financing and tax credits through New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
Transforming a Downtown | Town/Village of Harrison
In the 2000’s, the Town, in partnership with the MTA began a process to redevelop a 3.79 acre site owned by the MTA adjacent to the train station. In 2015, Avalon Bay was awarded the development rights to the site which included a 99 year lease of the property from the MTA. Construction of the project – which includes 143 apartments, 27,000 square feet of retail space, two public plazas and 750 off-street parking spaces, including a 500 space parking garage that supports MetroNorth commuters – began in 2020, and despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, was completed on time. The project has been the catalyst for new development throughout the downtown, including new residential projects, and new commercial activity on the ground floor of existing buildings which has enlivened the streetscape.
Lionsgate Studios | City of Yonkers
Great Point Studios created Lionsgate Studios in Yonkers to satisfy the increased demand for film studio space within the 25-mile “Studio Zone” radius extending from Columbus Circle in New York City. Built on the site of the former Otis elevator factory overlooking the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers, the complex includes a total of 11 soundstages, seven of which are occupied by Lionsgate, and parking for more than 750 cars and 100 trucks. The now expanded, one million square foot complex represents a $500 million investment in the City and boasts more 20,000 square foot stages on one campus than any other facility in the Northeast.
Cities of Excellence
City of New Rochelle
In 2015, following a years-long process that included community outreach and nationally recognized planning & development experts who helped map out New Rochelle’s unparalleled plan for growth, the New Rochelle City Council unanimously approved new form-based zoning that paved the way for the most significant economic rebirth of the City’s historic downtown. Accelerated by a fast-track zoning process, the City’s initiative has enhanced its downtown area with a surge in new retail, commercial, office, and hotel space, combined with economically diverse, high-quality housing. In addition to its vibrant downtown, with high-end restaurants, cafes, shops, New Rochelle is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, excellent schools from pre-school to college, beautiful parks throughout the City and along the waterfront, and its Arts and Cultural District — a hub for artists and innovators.
City of White Plains
Aptly named “One White Plains”, the City of White Plains’ in-progress update to its comprehensive plan presents a welcoming, safe, inclusive community with housing, employment, education, transportation and recreational opportunities that fulfill the needs of its diverse population. It is a city where business, culture and the arts thrive, where the natural environment is valued and where public spaces are accessible. It is a place that acknowledges its rich history, but also strives to understand regional, social and economic trends to plan for an equitable and sustainable future. Although White Plains has historically been very successful in attracting commercial office tenants, its adoption of zoning to encourage transit-oriented development has resulted in the redevelopment of some of its key downtown sites — the former White Plains Mall and Winbrook Houses — into modern mixed-use developments that provide a variety of market-rate and affordable new residences, services and restaurants.
City of Yonkers
As the third largest city in New York State, with a population of over 200,000 residents, the City of Yonkers is continually ranked as one the safest cities of its size in the country. It boasts dozens of diverse neighborhoods from quiet, residential tree-lined streets, to vibrant city living and everything in between. Yonkers has always been resilient over its long history; once a bustling industrial city home to Otis Elevator, the Alexander Smith carpet mills, and Domino Sugar, it is now known as “Hollywood on the Hudson” and home to the Carpet Mills Arts District. Yonkers has something for everyone: it’s a top destination for shoppers; it’s home to so many cultural attractions like the Hudson River Museum; and boasts renowned historic open space featured at Untermeyer Gardens. Its waterfront esplanade with incredible views of the Hudson River & the Palisades, its entertainment venues like Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, its golf courses, more than 70 parks, and historic sites are just a few reasons that continue to make the City of Yonkers a prime destination.
Distinguished Citizen Planner Awards
Marlene Cheatham | Village of Ossining
A lifelong resident of Ossining, Ms. Cheatham first took office as a member of the Village Board of Trustees in 2005 where she served for 8 years, during which time she also served as Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor. During her tenure, she worked on several major planning initiatives including the Village’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan, amendments to the Village’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, and the Ossining Community Climate Action Plan. In 2019, Marlene joined the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals where she quickly ascended to the position of Chair, and where she has considered more than 100 applications ranging from small area variances to consequential new construction with potential to transform a neighborhood. Always the consummate professional, Ms. Cheatham can be relied on by her fellow board members, members of the public, and applicants to uphold a transparent, respectful and fair process.
John Parkinson | Village of Larchmont
Mr. Parkinson served on the Village of Larchmont Planning Board for 15 years, eight of those as its Chairman. John skillfully managed the various applications before the Planning Board, and always ensured that everyone – the applicant, the Board and the public – fully understood all of the intricacies of the application and the approval process which frequently involved coordinated interaction with other Boards and Commissions. John was also instrumental in the recodification of the Village’s land use regulations and procedures. Larchmont will benefit for years to come from John’s enlightened, skillful and experienced leadership.
Legacy Awards
Ann Gallelli, a resident of Croton-on-Hudson for over 50 years, served the Village for 35 years in numerous roles. During those years it was clear that planning and the future of development in the Village were her primary focus. She began her tenure as a member of the Water Control Commission in 1988 followed by five years on the Planning Board until being elected Trustee in 1994. In 1997 she voluntarily resigned as a Trustee to return to the Planning Board to guide the Planning Board as Chair through the review of a number of significant projects which would shape the future of the Village. In 2006 she left the Planning Board to return to the Village Board where she served until her resignation in November 2023, ten of those years serving in the role of Deputy Mayor. From 1994 to 2023 Ann also served as the Planning Board or Trustee representative on the Waterfront Advisory Committee reviewing consistency with the LWRP for all actions in the Village. She served as Trustee liaison to two Comprehensive Plan committees, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as many other liaison posts. Ann played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Croton-on-Hudson. Given her interest in planning, Ann joined the Board of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation in 2003 and served on our Board for 10 years, including a term as President. In 2013 Ann was awarded the President’s Award at our Annual Awards Dinner. Ann was not only an exemplary public servant, but she also served as a mentor and friend to generations of elected officials, appointed committee members, and citizen volunteers that she worked with for so many years.
John B. Kirkpatrick was a professional planner and a land use and environmental attorney. He was a resident of White Plains for 49 years. John’s contribution to planning in Westchester was impressive for the breadth of roles he undertook. Having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and served in US Army Intelligence in Ethiopia, he then received a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Cornell. His first job in planning was in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. He relocated to Westchester for a role as a planner with Frederick P. Clark Associates in Rye. Having come to understand the impact of municipal law on the planning world, John entered Pace Law School and emerged as a land use and environmental attorney. In that role, he brought to bear his unique mix of talents in both planning and law, serving a wide range of public, private and non-profit clients in Westchester and beyond. John’s impact on planning in the County went well beyond his professional practice. As a citizen of White Plains, he participated in two rounds of Comprehensive Plan revisions and as a consultant prepared revisions to the Zoning Ordinance. Later, John was appointed to fill a vacancy and subsequently elected to the White Plains Common Council where he served for nine years. He also later served for two years on the Planning Board. In addition, John served twenty years on the Westchester Parks Foundation Board, including as President, and was also on the Board of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation in the 1990’s. John’s dedicated efforts are still ever-present and felt throughout the City of White Plains and Westchester County.
Scholarship Awards
Grace Roebuck is a rising undergraduate senior at Bryn Mawr College where she majors in Growth and Structure of Cities with a minor in Sociology. She has lived in Westchester County her whole life and currently resides in Bedford. Last summer she had to the opportunity to intern for the Town of Bedford Planning Department where she successfully researched and wrote a $50k grant to design a biking and pedestrian path through downtown. Currently, she is interested in studying affordable housing, community informed planning, and equitable redevelopment in suburban neighborhoods to mitigate sprawl. This summer, she will be interning with Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress where she will be researching adaptive reuse strategies for closed malls and schools to address the current housing shortage in the Hudson Valley. After graduation, Grace hopes to work in the planning field before getting her Master’s in Regional and Urban Planning.”
Jacob Rosewater is a rising senior at Cornell University’s College of Arts, Architecture, and Planning with a major in Urban and Regional Studies (URS) and a minor in Animal Science. He has spent the last half decade focused on regional housing and land use policy, including at the Westchester County Department of Planning (Summer 2021, Summer 2022) and the Westchester County Board of Legislators (Summer 2023, Dec. 2023 – Present). His research interests include the institutional development of suburban municipalities in New York State and quantitative geography in the field of American Jewish Studies, among other topics.