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.

BFJ Team. Nile Johnson Planner Nile Johnson recently joined BFJ, first as an intern and has transitioned to a full-time Planner. Nile brings her experience with research, community engagement, survey design and administration, and her knowledge of urban sustainability to the BFJ Team. She has contributed to several projects including master plans, parking/transportation studies, and public workshops.

Featured Projects. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Environmental Impact Statement Laurel Hollow, New York Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is an internationally renowned research institution located on Long Island’s North Shore. The laboratory campus, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, incorporates high-level scientific research facilities and residential buildings in a rural, campus-like setting. BFJ Planning prepared a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for proposed future projects, as well as site-specific plans for a childcare center. The GEIS included detailed technical analyses of environmental, socioeconomic, and fiscal impacts; a historical overview of the Laboratory’s development; its relationship with the Village; and the scientific purpose of the proposed future projects. As Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory continued to expand their facilities, they retained BFJ to bring a proposed 180,000 sf development project through the required State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process, including scoping, preparation of the Draft and Final EISs, Findings Statement, and related documents and approvals. The EIS addressed all potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed expansion, which included housing for students and visitors, six research laboratories, archive and library buildings, and permanent graduate school offices. Client Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Year

BFJ’s zoning proposals adopted in Scarsdale < Back Building Moratorium to Come to an End: Code Changes Enacted by Village Trustees Joanne Wallenstein Read Article Jul 10, 2024 BFJ’s zoning proposals adopted in Scarsdale Previous Next 1/1

Featured Projects. St. Helena Island Resort Development St. Helena Island The Department of Tourism at St. Helena Island selected BFJ to prepare preliminary design concepts for proposed tourism development on the Island. Studies were undertaken for two sites in the Town of Jamestown at Castle Gardens in downtown, and at the historic fort overlooking the town and the Atlantic Ocean. Our design work focused on the need to respect local architectural character and scale; to utilize sustainable design and engineering practices; and to plan to encourage local public use and access. The proposals provide for a mix of small-scale hotel, restaurant and recreational uses that take advantage of future tourism growth anticipated at St. Helena. Client St. Helena Island Department of Tourism Year

Featured Projects. Nyack Waterfront Plan Village of Nyack, New York BFJ Planning updated the Village of Nyack’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), a plan and policy document to guide future uses of the Village’s waterfront and increased public access. The Village last adopted an LWRP in 1992, and an update is needed to reflect existing conditions, outline policies that will guide future planning and incorporate harbor management policies that will focus on issues and opportunities to increase the diversity of uses beyond the water’s edge. Nyack’s waterfront is largely built-out or currently provides waterfront open-space. However, the Village has an opportunity to create improved connections to the waterfront, Memorial Park, the Village Marina, historical attractions, and downtown. The Nyack LWRP includes an update to the Village’s coastal policies, but the core of the plan is in the proposed projects. Some of the top project priorities include the Nyack Brook Improvement Project, a public waterfront walkway that connects downtown to the waterfront, improvements at Memorial Park and the Nyack Marina, and continuing to evaluate the potential for recreational or commuter ferry service. Client Village of Nyack Year 2017

Featured Projects. Ridgewood Zoning Impacts Analysis Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey BFJ Planning led a multidisciplinary team of consultants to evaluate the potential impacts of several proposed zoning ordinances in downtown Ridgewood, New Jersey. The study arose from the Planning Board’s adoption of an amendment to the Land Use Element of the Village’s Master Plan. The amendment, developed in response to several developer proposals in the downtown, was intended to support transit-oriented development that can accommodate residential uses serving the housing needs of seniors and low- to moderate-income households. The consultant team evaluated the proposed zoning ordinances across four key areas of potential impact: traffic (vehicular as well as pedestrian); fiscal health; school district capacity; and community facilities and infrastructure (water, sewer and emergency services). BFJ conducted a build-out analysis of key development sites, which served as the basis for the impacts analysis, as well as the assessment of impacts to community facilities. BFJ also compiled the full report and led the presentation to the Village Council, which adopted the zoning ordinances in March 2016, based on the report’s finding of net positive impacts. Client Village of Ridgewood Year 2016