Featured Projects. Arcadian Mall Re-Envisioning Report Ossining, NY BFJ Planning assisted Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.(“UBP”) to explore redevelopment options for the Arcadian Mall in Ossining, NY, a shopping plaza that is suffering high vacancy rates and uncertain future. The report begins with an analysis of the current status of the property, including a description of the surrounding neighborhood context, existing land use and zoning regulations, and identifies the challenges and opportunities that the property is facing when considering redevelopment. The report describes and graphically illustrates options for redevelopment that include a residential component as well as significant streetscape, connectivity and public space upgrades. The overall vision is to create the conditions for a mixed-use, “village within a village” community. Our work also included developing a community outreach strategy and conducting a preliminary analysis of traffic and fiscal impacts. Client Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. Year 2024

Featured Projects. Somers Realty Corporation Market Study and Approvals Somers, New York BFJ Planning was retained by a private developer, Somers Realty, to prepare a site plan for a mixed use development on an 80-acre site in Somers, New York. BFJ provided a range of real estate and planning services to the property owner, including a market study, an environmental assessment, a master plan for the site, a land valuation study and a fiscal impact analysis of the proposed development. BFJ represented the client before the Planning Board and Town Board throughout the approvals process. The proposed site plan called for a mix of residential, retail and office buildings centered on a village green and included an extensive open space network. An important component of this project was the creation of workforce housing on the site. The Town of Somers has not met its affordable housing obligation to Westchester County and the Somers Realty site is one of the few developable sites in the Town available for affordable housing. BFJ Planning worked with the Town on behalf of Somers Realty to develop a plan in which ten percent of all units will be affordable. These units will be integrated into the overall development and will not be distinguishable from market rate units on the site. In addition, BFJ worked with the Housing Action Council to create an additional 50 units of affordable senior housing on the site that had not originally been planned for in the initial site plan application. Client Somers Realty Year 2011

BFJ Planning is working with Mineola, NY on the New York Forward grant program. A second public workshop was held on September 30, 2024 to present public and private grant projects to the community for input. < Back Planning committee seeks public input for grant projects Ben Fiebert Read Article Oct 1, 2024 BFJ Planning is working with Mineola, NY on the New York Forward grant program. A second public workshop was held on September 30, 2024 to present public and private grant projects to the community for input. Previous Next 1/1

The East Hampton Star recaps a virtual workshop led by BFJ Planning’s Noah Levine and Emily Tolbert about the comprehensive plan for East Hampton Village < Back Ideas Abound for Village’s Future Christopher Walsh Read Article May 8, 2025 The East Hampton Star recaps a virtual workshop led by BFJ Planning’s Noah Levine and Emily Tolbert about the comprehensive plan for East Hampton Village Previous Next 1/1

BFJ Team. Sarah Yackel AICP Principal 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.

Featured Projects. Edison Township Master Plan Edison, NJ BFJ’s Edison Township Master Plan was unanimously adopted by the Planning Board in 2024. It had been more than 20 years since the Township developed a full Master Plan, and a lot had occurred during the intervening period. The Plan incorporated new county, region, and statewide planning initiatives which gave reason to reassess Edison’s needs and the direction in which future growth must proceed. Edison Township is a diverse community of over 100,000 people covering approximately 30 square miles in Middlesex County, New Jersey. With excellent access to the regional roadway network, Edison has become a regionally and nationally significant warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution hub for commercial goods. However, the proliferation of these uses has caused the community to experience a significant amount of congestion and other quality of life issues. Those major roadways and highways, along with rail lines, and transmission lines, have physically divided the community. Without a core downtown, Edison’s commercial areas are generally strip malls along busy roads that are not safe for pedestrians or cyclists, The new 2024 Master Plan provides Edison with actionable recommendations to adress these quality of life issues and knit the community back together. The plan evaluates opportunities to improve commercial corridors with better design and pedestrian amenities that will help to link surrounding neighborhoods to commercial areas. Potential future redevelopment areas are identifed, including for transit-oriented-development at the Edison Train station. Additional recommendations will help Edison meet its New Jersey Fair Share housing obligation, improve the efficiency and safety of roadways, expand public access to the Raritan River, and address climate change vulnerabilities to improve Edison’s resilience. Client Township of Edison Year 2024

BFJ Team. Mark Freker Associate Mark Freker is a planner with a range of experience, focusing on land use planning, community engagement, and transportation planning. He has more than five years of experience in both planning and public health work in urban and suburban contexts, with projects including development studies, transportation plans, land use analysis and public health research.

Featured Projects. Peekskill Waterfront Plan Peekskill, NY BFJ Planning updated the City of Peekskill’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), a plan for the future development and redevelopment of the City’s Hudson River waterfront. The City last adopted an LWRP in 2004, and an update is needed to reflect existing conditions, outline policies that will guide future planning and incorporate a waterfront Blue Plan that will focus on issues and opportunities to increase the diversity of uses beyond the water’s edge. Peekskill’s waterfront has seen significant investment in parks, pedestrian amenities and cultural facilities, and new businesses are beginning to locate along the river. Meanwhile, the City’s downtown business district is transforming with live/work artist lofts, residential development and new stores and restaurants. The LWRP update focused on ways to connect these two important areas of Peekskill to maximize economic development and quality-of-life for City residents. Client City of Peekskill Year 2015

Featured Projects. Farmingdale Transit Oriented Development and Downtown Master Plan Farmingdale, New York The Village of Farmingdale Downtown and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Plan reconnects Farmingdale’s Main Street and train station (located two blocks to the east) through mixed-use transit oriented development and intentional urban design. The TOD portion of the plan envisions highest density development around the train station with structured/underground parking, retail frontages along the street, and a small public “station green” at the station’s primary pedestrian gateway. The Plan involved substantial community input and consultation with development interests to help ensure success. Active retail/cafe frontages and streetscape improvements along Eastern Parkway create a walkable pedestrian environment to encourage movement to and from the train station and shopping and restaurant destinations on Main Street. Since the plan’s adoption in 2011, a significant portion of the TOD has been completed. Urban design & planning by Jonathan Martin, Senior Associate at BFJ Planning. Client Village of Farmingdale Year 2011

Featured Projects. New Rochelle Downtown Overlay District SEQR Review New Rochelle, New York The City of New Rochelle retained BFJ Planning in 2015 to assist in the review of the New Rochelle Downtown Development Plan (RAP), the proposed Downtown Overlay Zone, and the associated review of the SEQR Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). The City and RDRXR, the selected Master Developer, with assistance from BFJ, developed a new form-based DOZ for an approximately 309-acre area of Downtown New Rochelle. The adopted DOZ is an optional overlay district, whereby landowners can choose to opt into development under the proposed DOZ requirements. The DOZ encourages redevelopment through the creation of an active, mixed-use district with convenient, safe and pleasant access to the New Rochelle Transportation Center. The DOZ Plan was the New York Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association’s 2015 winner of the William H. White Award, which recognizes creativity and ingenuity in planning. The DOZ code also was the 2016 winner of a Westchester Municipal Planning Federation Award for planning excellence. BFJ played an integral part in refining development and zoning recommendations and assisted the City in reviewing and coordi-nating the Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF) Part 1, preparing the FEAF Parts 2 and 3 and positive declaration, outlining the technical aspects to be analyzed in the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), review of the Draft and Final GEIS, assistance with the development of mitigation measures, preparation of the SEQR Findings Statement, and filing of required notices in DEC’s Environmental Notice Bulletin. Significant issues analyzed in the GEIS included, land use, urban design, water and sewer infrastructure, demand for City services, including impacts on the New Rochelle School District and New Rochelle Police and Fire Departments, visual resources, transportation networks and capacity, energy demand, generation and disposal of solid waste, growth inducement, and community character. Following adoption of the DOZ amendments in 2015, BFJ has continued to provide on-call planning and SEQR services to the City of New Rochelle with respect to the DOZ. BFJ assisted the City in 2016 and 2017 with minor modifications, and the associated analysis, to increase the maximum allowable development density (Theoretical Development Scenario) permitted in the DOZ as analyzed in the GEIS. BFJ, on behalf of the City, also assists in the review of DOZ projects before the Planning Board as part of Site Plan Review. BFJ reviews each site-specific EAF’s and other SEQR documentation for completeness, accuracy, and consistency with the 2015 GEIS and adopted SEQR Findings Statement, as amended. Client City of New Rochelle Year 2015 and Ongoing

BFJ Team. Francoise Mohamed Office Manager

BFJ Team. Eshti Sookram Planner Eshti brings experience in creative community engagement, geographic analysis, project coordination, social media management, and graphic design. Demonstrating a commitment to fostering inclusivity in community engagement, her focus extends to addressing environmental justice concerns in multidisciplinary planning projects. Prior to joining BFJ, Ms. Sookram worked for the FAB Fulton Business Improvement District and Urban Magazine at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.