Sarah Yackel is an urban planner with more than seventeen years of experience in environmental review, land use planning and zoning. Ms. Yackel has extensive expertise in the preparation of comprehensive plans, waterfront plans, and zoning regulations throughout the Metropolitan and Mid-Hudson regions. In addition, Ms. Yackel heads up BFJ’s environmental review practice group and has broad knowledge of the environmental impact review and assessment processes, including the management, preparation and review of environmental review documents at all levels of government, public consultation and scoping, and development of effective mitigation strategies. Ms. Yackel has managed a large variety of projects ranging in size and geography, from large-scale urban redevelopment projects to small scale projects in suburban/rural areas. Prior to joining BFJ, Ms. Yackel worked as a planner at the Municipal Art Society (MAS) of New York and at Environmental Science Associates, a San Francisco based environmental planning firm. Ms. Yackel served as the Chair of the New York Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association’s (APA) Awards Committee from 2010 to 2015, as Vice President for Committees from 2012-2014, and as Vice President for Professional Development from 2006-2008. Ms. Yackel was awarded the “Floyd Lapp Award” for distinguished service by the APA NY Metro Chapter in 2008. Ms. Yackel has also been a guest lecturer in environmental planning at New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and Baruch College.