BFJ Planning is assisting the Village of East Hampton on its Comprehensive Plan Update and hosted the first public workshop on December 6, 2024. < Back Neighbors Showed Up to Talk East Hampton Village's Future Christopher Gangemi Read Article Dec 12, 2024 BFJ Planning is assisting the Village of East Hampton on its Comprehensive Plan Update and hosted the first public workshop on December 6, 2024. Previous Next 1/1

BFJ Planning has held public meetings in each of Rockland County’s five towns to hear views, ideas, and concerns in order to prepare the county’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and Generic Environmental Impact Statement. < Back Rockland Planners Hold Final Public Meeting Kathy Kahn Read Article Jun 12, 2025 BFJ Planning has held public meetings in each of Rockland County’s five towns to hear views, ideas, and concerns in order to prepare the county’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Previous Next 1/1

Featured Projects. Rockland County Riverway Trail Feasibility Study Rockland County, NY BFJ Planning led a team to study the feasibility of a +/- 20-mile shared use path that extends north-south in Rockland County in proximity to the Hudson River. This effort was catalyzed by the County’s interest to invest in recreational outdoor amenities/infrastructure since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to improve local quality of life and regional draw for visitors and tourism. Toole Design played a major role in evaluating path alignment options emphasizing design and connection opportunities related to environmental, built environment and social considerations. Toole Design also led the effort to estimate path demand/trip potential. Sub-consultant Urbanomics analyzed socio-economic characteristics and demographics, as well as tourism trends on the regional and County levels. Urbanomics projected the economic impacts of the path to further the understanding of its feasibility and communicate these benefits to the stakeholders and general public. A central component of gauging path feasibility was careful coordination and outreach with each municipality located along the path in order to assess key challenges and opportunities for path alignment and design. Initial outreach with municipal leaders was followed by community-based workshops and stakeholder engagement to inform nuances of path alignment and design. Maximizing connectivity to other recreational and tourist destinations and to trip generators enhance functionality and economic impact of the path. Client Rockland County, New York Year 2024

Featured Projects. Parks, Open Space, and Recreation Newtown Plan of Conservation And Development Newtown, CT BFJ Planning worked with the Town of Newtown to update its Plan of Conservation and Development. Located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, the Town is characterized by its rural landscapes, historic sites, and small town charm. Newtown sought to increase diverse housing opportunities and support economic growth while preserving the Town’s open spaces and bucolic character. Key goals include expanding options for senior housing, increasing opportunities for economic activity in key areas, prioritizing redevelopment of vacant urbanized sites, and reviewing measures to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance road safety. Other key themes include expanding the Town’s open space inventory and promoting energy resiliency strategies to reduce the Town’s greenhouse gas emissions and improve power grid reliability. Client Town of Newtown Year 2024

BFJ Team. Michelle Gilman Planner Michelle joined BFJ with a background in planning, project management, and sales. She has experience in comprehensive planning, research, data analysis, and graphic representation. Ms. Gilman spent five years in technology sales before moving to urban planning. Prior to BFJ, she worked for a small economic development firm, the NYC Department of Transportation, and NYU's Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management.

BFJ Planning is excited to kick off the environmental review of two overlay districts in the Town of Yorktown. The zoning is intended to spur economic development in the hamlets of Yorktown Heights and Lake Osceola by encouraging a mix of uses and high-quality design. < Back Yorktown Hires BFJ Planning to Assist with Review of Overlay District Zoning Jess Wilder Read Article Aug 20, 2021 BFJ Planning is excited to kick off the environmental review of two overlay districts in the Town of Yorktown. The zoning is intended to spur economic development in the hamlets of Yorktown Heights and Lake Osceola by encouraging a mix of uses and high-quality design. The Yorktown Town Board voted last week to hire a prominent regional planning firm to help perform state-mandated analyses of the town’s proposed overlay district zoning. After considering proposals submitted by four planning consulting firms, the board decided at its August 11 meeting to choose Buckhurst Fish & Jacquemart Planning to assist with the review that is required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Town officials are considering the creation of overlay districts in the Yorktown Heights and Lake Osceola business hamlets to encourage some redevelopment approaches. The overlay zones would allow a greater diversity of permitted uses with the goal of revitalizing specific neighborhoods. “Frank Fish and his team are award-winning experts with firsthand experience in creating overlay districts in other Westchester communities,” said Supervisor Matt Slater. “The Town Board is committed to crafting the best overlay zoning rules that address the need to renew and reinvest in our downtowns while protecting the integrity and character of our community. The addition of BFJ and their professionals will help us accomplish this.” BFJ Planning has a long history of planning work in Westchester County and the region. Recent projects include updating the City of White Plains’ Comprehensive Plan and assisting the Ossining Village Board in the adoption of a Comprehensive Plan and new form-based code. In the Village of Pleasantville, the firm conducted a zoning study of single-family residential districts to ensure that new homes are consistent with the village’s small-scale character. BFJ Planning is the latest professional consultant hired by the Town Board to assist the Planning Department in evaluating the best approaches to update, improve and strengthen the town’s commercial hamlets while preserving community character and quality of life. Earlier this year, the Town Board retained Barton & Loguidice and Weston & Sampson for environmental review services, and the Transpo Group and Sam Schwartz Company for assistance in traffic studies. Previous Next 1/1

Featured Projects. Capital District Transportation Authority Park-and-Ride Express Bus Study Albany, New York BFJ Planning worked with CDTA to evaluate and improve park-and-ride facilities and express bus service in the Capital area. BFJ documented the physical conditions of 40 park-and-ride lots identified in the area. Surveys of all park-and-ride lot users (including kiss-and-ride and walk-and-ride users) provide the team with valuable data regarding the user behavior and attitudes. User surveys helped BFJ to create market demand estimates for park-and-ride and express-bus usage. The report presented key strategies to improve services including: identifying potential locations for additional park-and-ride facilities, opportunities for new express routes, opportunities for bus service enhancements, including possibly shoulder running along congested highways, conceptual express service designs, wayfinding and signage improvements, as well as a framework for marketing and branding. Client Capital District Transportation Authority Year 2011

Featured Projects. Mamaroneck Planning Advisory Services Mamaroneck, New York BFJ has acted as the prime planning consultant to the Village of Mamaroneck for more than 20 years. Our work has included the following major assignments: Preparation of village-wide master plans in 1984 and 2012 Updating the village's Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) Preparation of the Waverly Avenue design study in 2004 Streetscape design services for Mamaroneck Avenue in the downtown area Completion of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zoning study in 2013, prepared in partnership with the Washingtonville Housing Alliance, and work on new zoning to implement the study's findings Ongoing assistance to the Planning Board with site plan and subdivision reviews Zoning code amendments and environmental reviews on behalf of the Mayor and Board of Trustees Client Village of Mamaroneck Year Ongoing

Featured Projects. Lower Manhattan Street Management Study New York, New York BFJ Planning (BFJ) was retained by Arup, in consultation with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), to undertake a study on expanding and enhancing pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Lower Manhattan. Consistent with the Bloomberg Administration’s PLANYC 2030 and Sustainable Streets – the strategic plan for NYCDOT calling for a more sustainable transportation system – the Lower Manhattan Shared Streets project aims to reallocate street space in Lower Manhattan from vehicle-dominated space to streets that accommodate all users regardless of transportation mode, age or physical ability. In a shared street, the environment is designed in a way that encourages low vehicular speeds, safe and convenient pedestrian movement, and visual and personal communication among all users of the roadway in order to minimize conflicts. Shared streets are an extension of an urban area’s public open space, where pedestrians can safely relax, stroll, shop and dine. The primary objectives of the Shared Streets report included evaluating specific streets in Lower Manhattan where the shared streets concept would be appropriate, as well as outlining a program of design elements and engineering measures intended to implement the concept. BFJ was charged with examining the safety aspects of shared streets in other urban areas around the world in order to determine strategies that would most effectively contribute to the successful operation of shared streets in Manhattan. This included an exhaustive review and summation of “before and after” crash data and casualty statistics for roadways that have previously undergone the shared street transformation. While formulas for shared streets vary by location, there are a number of road treatments proven to yield optimal results. These include roadway width reduction and sidewalk width expansion to reduce crossing lengths and vehicle speeds; increasing the number of both formal and informal crossing points to improve pedestrian movement patterns; and streetscape improvements including street resurfacing, pedestrian-scale lighting, furniture, landscaping and other aesthetically pleasing design elements aimed at calming vehicular traffic movements and enhancing the overall pedestrian experience. Client ARUP, New York City Department of Transportation Year 2015

Featured Projects. Yonkers Environmental Services Yonkers, New York BFJ Planning has performed numerous environmental reviews under both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) on behalf of the City of Yonkers as well as for private sector clients on projects located within the City. BFJ’s work for the City has included a NEPA Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ashburton Avenue Master Plan and Urban Renewal Plan, NEPA Environmental Assessments (EA) for the Yonkers Affordable Housing Project (generic EA and site specific EAs), a NEPA environmental review for the new Yonkers Ferry Station, a NEPA EA for the Saw Mill River Daylighting and Restoration Project at Larkin Plaza, and SEQR review services to the City of a private development application for the expansion of the South Westchester Executive Park and development of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center. In addition, BFJ, on behalf of the Yonkers-based not-for-profit Greyston Foundation, Inc. and Loewen Development, prepared a SEQR Full Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and related attachments for the Warburton Riverview Workforce Housing Project, a mixeduse workforce condominium project located in Downtown Yonkers. The project received approval from the Yonkers Zoning Board of Appeals in late 2008. BFJ is also providing site planning and SEQR services on behalf of a private development group for the Point Street Landing project, a large-scale mixed-use development on a Brownfield site located on the Yonkers waterfront; this project is ongoing. Client City of Yonkers Year 2003, 2011

Featured Projects. Nyack Comprehensive Plan Nyack, New York BFJ Planning prepared an update, funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), of the 2007 Nyack Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. The plan update focused on incorporating demographic and economic conditions and coordinating them with the Sustainable Nyack Action Plan, potential impacts of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, other planning efforts within the Village and ongoing development activity in Nyack and along the Hudson River waterfront. The Comprehensive Plan update incorporates sustainability principles by identifying goals and initiatives from the Sustainable Nyack Action Plan and coordinating with NYSERDA Cleaner Greener Communities efforts to develop a strategy for ongoing tracking through sustainability indicators and metrics. With a focus on the key opportunity areas of downtown, the waterfront and the “Gateway” area of the Village, the Plan also evaluates the potential for commuter or recreational ferry service. BFJ led a multidisciplinary team of consultants including Perkins Eastman Architects and COWI North America, to cover specific aspects of the Plan such as waterfront opportunities and urban design. As part of the effort, BFJ has directed all public outreach aspects of the Plan update process, including seven public workshops and charrettes and a public survey taken by nearly 1,000 people. The plan was adopted in October 2016. Client Village of Nyack Year 2016

This is the home page for BFJ Planning, an urban planning consulting firm with five service areas: Planning, Urban Design, Transportation Planning, Environmental Analysis, and Real Estate Consulting. Awards. One White Plains Comprehensive Plan Planning Achievement Award, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, 2025 Ossining Comprehensive Plan and Form-Based Overlay Districts Planning Commendation Award, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, 2021 Mount Kisco Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Overlay Zone Heissenbuttel Award for Planning Excellence, New York Planning Federation, 2021 Mount Kisco Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Overlay Zone Planning Commendation, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, 2018 Scarsdale Freightway Site Redevelopment Study Planning Achievement Award, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, 2018 Plan Nyack: Blueprint for the Future, Comprehensive Plan, Village of Nyack, NY New York Planning Federation, Comprehensive Plan Award Pleasantville Plan & Zoning Update Planning Achievement Award, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, 2017 NY Rising Community Reconstruction Plan for Gravesend/Bensonhurst Award for Inclusive Community Engagement, 2015 Mamaroneck Transit-Oriented Development Study New York Planning Federation Award and New York Planning Federation, Pomeroy Award for Zoning Achievement, 2013 Downtown Planning & Implementation, Tuckahoe, NY Westchester Municipal Planning Federation Award Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Update, Port Chester, NY Westchester Municipal Planning Federation Award Comprehensive Plan, Rockland County, NY New York Planning Federation Award Comprehensive Plan, Village of Mamaroneck, NY Westchester Planning Federation Commendation Hanoi Master Plan to 2030 and Vision to 2050 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards, Urban Design Merit Award August Heckscher Award, New York, NY August Heckscher Award for Community Service, CIVITAS Comprehensive Planning Initiative, Bridgeport, CT Certificate of Appreciation, American Planning Association, Connecticut Chapter Princeton University Master Plan, Princeton, NJ Honor Award for Excellence in Planning for an Established Campus, Society for College and University Planning and the American Institute of Architects, Committee on Architecture for Education Waterfront Plan, Stratford, CT Outstanding Planning Award, American Planning Association, Connecticut Chapter Neighborhood Revitalization Plans, Hartford, CT Outstanding Planning Program Award, American Planning Association, Connecticut Chapter Regional Plan of Conservation & Development, South Western Regional Planning Association, CT Sustainable Planning Award, American Society of Consulting Planners Regional Plan of Conservation and Development and the Regional Housing Needs/Supply Assessment, South Western Region Planning Association, CT Outstanding Regional Planning Program Award, American Planning Association, Connecticut Chapter Downtown Duluth Waterfront Plan, Duluth, MN Top Honor Award, the Waterfront Center Outstanding Planning Award, American Planning Association, Minnesota Chapter Master Plan, Montpelier, VT Outstanding Planning Award, State of Vermont Planners Association Roanoke Vision: A Public Process of Comprehensive Planning, Roanoke, VA Honorable Mention for Outstanding Planning, National American Planning Association S/S William A. Irvin, Ore Boat Museum, Duluth, MN Honor Award, Waterfront Center Hoboken Master Plan Reexamination Report and Land Use Element Smart Growth Award, New Jersey Future, 2019