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Case Study: Bridgeport, CT Overview BFJ Planning has a long history working in the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 2000, in collaboration with Urbanomics, BFJ prepared a community needs assessment for Bridgeport's Lower East Side neighborhood. In 2006 BFJ assisted the City in preparing new zoning for Steele Point, a major waterfront redevelopment site. Then in 2007 BFJ was hired to lead a consultant team in preparing a new Master Plan for the city. The project included not only the preparation of the Master Plan itself but also an organizational review of Bridgeport's planning and zoning application process and the preparation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the City. Following the adoption of the Master Plan in 2008, BFJ worked with the City to update its Zoning Code to implement the recommendations of the Master Plan. Then in 2010, Bridgeport hired BFJ to prepare zoning for a Village District in the city's Black Rock neighborhood. As a follow-up to the Master Plan, BFJ worked with the City and neighborhood residents on a Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) Plan for Bridgeport's Reservoir Avenue neighborhood. Master Plan Preparation of Bridgeport's Master Plan was a partnership between the BFJ Planning team, city planners and Bridgeport's Planning and Zoning Commission. The Master Plan is Bridgeport's central planning document, balancing economic and social policies and reflecting public input gathered through an extensive community participation process. The guiding purpose of the plan is to capture economic development potential and enhance quality-of-life for city residents. The plan describes an overall vision for Bridgeport's future that is centered around six major themes: Downtown: The Catalyst for Improving the City's Image Jobs: Expand Economic Opportunities and Attract 15,000 New Jobs by 2020 Neighborhoods: Foster Neighborhoods of Choice Education: Quality and Choice to Attract Families Infrastructure: A Foundation for the Future Environment: A Greener Bridgeport The recommendations of the Master Plan are currently being implemented by the City and its partners. Zoning Update Immediately following the adoption of the Master Plan in 2008, BFJ began working with the City on a crucial first step in implementing the Plan- updating the zoning code. The Zoning Code Update addressed the following needs that were identified in the Master Plan: Reduce the number of zoning districts in the City Eliminate spot zoning Introduce design controls Strengthen review and approval procedures Strengthen environmental protection As part of this project, BFJ also prepared a user-friendly Zoning Handbook to serve as a companion to the code. The handbook provides an overview of the most significant changes found in the 2008 code revisions and explains the zones, districts, and major regulations that govern development in Bridgeport. Reservoir Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) Plan BFJ is worked with the City of Bridgeport and neighborhood residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for the Reservoir Avenue neighborhood revitalization zone (NRZ). The NRZ planning process is a collaborative effort between the City, BFJ, and the neighborhood to determine priorities and needs and develop an actionable plan to improve physical infrastructure and quality of life in the Reservoir Avenue neighborhood. Issues addressed in the plan ranged from improvements to streetscapes, open spaces, building facades, and property maintenance to programmatic changes addressing safety and health. Community input is central to the success of this project and BFJ has been working with the City on innovative approaches to public engagement

Practice Areas.

BFJ Team. Frank Fish FAICP Principal Frank Fish FAICP is a founding principal of BFJ Planning with over 40 years of experience in urban planning. He heads the firm’s master planning, zoning and economic development practice areas. He has worked on a wide range of planning projects in the New York Metropolitan area and around the country. New York City projects include the transfer of development rights from Grand Central Terminal and hurricane Sandy New York Rising Reconstruction Plans. Mr. Fish is a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has served on the board of the American Society of Consulting Planners and the New York Planning Federation.

Interested in joining the BFJ team? Open Positions: Planner BFJ Planning is seeking a talented Planner to join our team. The successful candidate will be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, working on multiple projects and managing their time appropriately. The position will be based in our New York City office, with the ability to work remotely several days a week. See the link below for the job posting: https://www.nyplanning.org/jobs/planner-60/

RFP - HARTFORD-BRAINARD AIRPORT BFJ Planning was awarded a contract under Public Act No. 22-118, Section 426, which mandates the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) on behalf of the state to assess the benefits and opportunity costs to the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut of the current and alternative uses of the Hartford-Brainard Airport property. The state must do so in a way that is consistent with and supports the bill’s stated goals of promoting the health, welfare, and safety of people in Connecticut; increasing their quality of life; boosting tourism; stimulating the economy, and enhancing people’s ability to enjoy the Connecticut river. DECD must submit a report of the analysis’s findings, by October 15, 2023, to the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee. BFJ Planning will prepare a Draft and Final Reports which will synthesize; 1) a decision pathway for continued use or redevelopment of the Airport following Federal and State regulations; 2) a preferred development scenario with a clear regulatory pathway for redevelopment following Federal, State, and Local laws; and, 3) a Final Report summarizing the community engagement program, identify impacts and an environmental remediation phasing plan. The report will highlight development constraints and provide other recommendations to assist the final decision-making by members of the State Legislature. BFJ Planning must submit a draft report by August 31, 2023, to DECD. BFJ is conducting this RFP process by its Brainard Airport contract with the State of Connecticut DEDC and is issuing separate requests for qualifications/proposals (RFQ/RFP) to engage consultants to undertake (A) economic considerations, (B) environmental components and (C) analysis of the regulatory components of the requirements stated in the DECD’s RFP#22ECD2185. Documents. RFP No. 2022-1 Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments RFP No. 2022-2 Economic Analysis of Hartford Brainard Airport RFP No. 2022-3 Regulatory Analysis of Hartford Brainard Airport

BFJ Team. Christine Jimenez LEED AP ND Associate Christine Jimenez has a multidisciplinary background in the fields of architecture, planning, and urban design. She has experience working on comprehensive plans, downtown plans, graphic visualizations, public engagement events, urban design studies, and zoning analyses. Prior to BFJ, Ms. Jimenez worked for a Westchester-based architecture firm focused on home renovations and new residential projects.

BFJ Team. Silvia Del Fava AICP, LEED AP ND Associate Silvia Del Fava brings a diverse background in planning, policy, and urban design in the public and private sectors. She has experience in facilitating stakeholder engagement, zoning and development analysis, and graphic rendering and analysis. Prior to joining BFJ, Ms. Del Fava worked for New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), as well as in the private sector for a planning firm and architecture studio.

Case Study: Princeton University Overview BFJ has been the traffic and parking consultant for Princeton University since 1988 when we prepared a traffic impact analysis for a new garage in the Engineering Quad and assisted in its functional design. The garage, which was designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates, received an AIA Honor Award. This was the beginning of a long relationship with Princeton University that still continues in 2023. BFJ’s assignments for the University included long-term planning projects for the existing historical campus, the east campus and the currently ongoing expansion into West Windsor across from Lake Carnegie, as well as technical assistance in support of zoning and site plan applications for new campus buildings and infrastructure improvements. West Campus Garage In the 1990s BFJ prepared a traffic and circulation plan for the university to mitigate traffic impacts associated the West Campus Garage. The plan included the design of two modern roundabouts to ease congestion at critical intersections on Faculty Road and Elm Drive. These roundabouts were the first modern roundabouts built in the State of New Jersey. Princeton Campus Plan for 2016 Between 2006 and 2008 BFJ worked with Princeton University and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners to develop the transportation element of the university's Master Plan. The transportation element addressed traffic, pedestrian and bicycle circulation, bus service, parking and truck circulation and loading. As part of this work, BFJ developed a parking model for the campus, allowing the university to monitor and forecast parking demand. BFJ has assisted Princeton in the approval and implementation of all major projects resulting from the Master Plan including several new academic buildings, new housing for faculty and students and the new Arts and Transit Neighborhood. The Master Plan received the 2008 Honor Award for Excellence in Planning presented by the Society for College and University Planning and the American Institute of Architects. Arts and Transit Neighborhood Plan Following the publication of the Master Plan, the university embarked on an effort to rezone the western portion of the campus near the Dinky train station and McCarter Theater to create the new Arts and Transit neighborhood anchored by the future Lewis Center for the Arts and a new relocated train station. BFJ provided transportation planning support for both the rezoning effort and the site plan application for the new neighborhood. The firm was responsible for the analysis of the traffic impacts of the proposed plan and for the development of transportation mitigation measures. As part of this project, BFJ analyzed all access modes and assisted the design team in developing programs that improve the overall access to the station and mitigate relocation impacts. This work included geo-coding rail users by access mode, assessing the impacts of various transit strategies, developing bicycle improvement plans and designing the proposed transit plaza. The adopted plan included the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Alexander Street and University Place, the upgrading of numerous bicycle facilities in the neighborhood and the improvement of local bus service. Construction of the Arts and Transit project was completed in 2015. (image: Michael Van Valkeburgh Associates) 2026 Princeton University Campus Plan Starting in 2016 BFJ worked with the Urban Strategies group on the plan for the campus development through 2026 and beyond. The goal was to create a flexible, revisable framework to guide the development of the campus and accommodate a significant increase of Princeton’s undergraduate student body. This very ambitious plan laid the foundation of the campus expansion into the Township of West Windsor across from Lake Carnegie – the creation of Lake Campus (later named Meadows Neighborhood). BFJ’s role was to assist the team in developing the circulation element of the new campus, projecting future parking demands and preparing a comprehensive traffic impact study submitted to the municipality as part of the approval process. BFJ also developed pedestrian and bicycle forecasts for a planned pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Lake Carnegie. The 2026 Campus Plan also led to the development of the Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Science buildings, a new soccer stadium and practice field and a 1,500-space parking garage on East Campus. BFJ worked with the SOM and Ennead teams on these initiatives to design the circulation system and undertake the necessary transportation impact studies to obtain approvals from the municipality of Princeton. These projects are under construction as of 2023. (image source: SOM) Princeton Forrestal Campus Transportation Studies The Princeton Forrestal Center located in the Township of Plainsboro includes a large office park, several residential developments, the Princeton Forrestal Village and several academic and research buildings, including the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. BFJ undertook a major TDM study for the Forrestal Center with the goal to reduce overall traffic and parking loads and increase mobility options for the employees in the center. A key concern of the companies located in the Forrestal Center was related to their ability to attract the younger, educated workforce to work in the Forrestal Center. This assignment included focus group meetings with the major employers, user surveys, and the creation of TDM strategies tailored to the Forrestal Center. BFJ also undertook a major traffic impact study of the Forrestal Campus expansion to assist the University in gaining approval for a 20-year General Development Plan (GDP). This study included the feasibility and impact analysis of previously approved GDP conditions of a new roadway connection and significant intersection upgrades. BFJ's traffic study for the 2022 Forrestal Campus GDP led to an alternative set of intersection improvements that are more cost-effective and sustainable.

BFJ Team. Nick Cerdera Planner Nick Cerdera recently joined BFJ Planning, bringing experience in planning, policy, and design in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He has experience in geographic analysis, stakeholder engagement, and site design. With a commitment to helping communities build a more resilient, sustainable, and just future, his work focuses on the intersection of planning and urban design principles. Prior to joining BFJ, Mr. Cerdera conducted planning and urban design work for Union Square Partnership and Times Square Alliance, as well transportation consulting for a private firm on the West Coast.

Featured Projects. Lehigh University Transportation Plan Bethlehem, PA BFJ Planning is working with a master planning team led by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects to prepare the transportation element of the Campus Master Plan. Guiding Principles of the process that are most related to transportation and circulation include: To unite the three campuses into one integrated campus experience; To activate the Mountaintop campus through a long-term vision with catalytic near-term moves; To strengthen connectivity with an emphasis on enhancing walking and bicycling. Key objectives of the Transportation Element are to support pedestrian friendliness on campus, vehicular circulation and safety, roadway redesign opportunities, and to improve parking conditions. Additionally, recommendations aim to improve the efficiency of the University’s shuttle bus operations by expanding “Express” routes, improving overall operation/productivity of the service, and increasing the appeal of the shuttle bus for users. Client Lehigh University Year 2024

BFJ Planning is a consulting firm providing professional expertise in planning, urban design, environmental analysis, real estate, and transportation since its establishment in 1980. Planning. Urban Design. Real Estate Consulting. Environmental Planning. Transportation Planning. Sustainability and Resiliency Planning. BFJ Planning is a consulting firm providing professional expertise in planning, urban design, environmental analysis, real estate, and transportation since its establishment in 1980. Led by firm partners, Frank Fish, Georges Jacquemart, Sarah K. Yackel, and Susan Favate, BFJ serves public, private and non-profit clients throughout the country and overseas. The firm’s philosophy is one of integrated planning and hands-on, senior-level leadership.