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. South Street Seaport Historic District Rezoning Proposal New York, New York On behalf of Manhattan Community Board 1 and in close coordination with the New York City Department of City Planning, BFJ Planning prepared the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) Application and City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) for the proposed rezoning of a ten-block area in the South Street Seaport Historic District. This unique historic area of Manhattan, located along the East River waterfront and adjacent to the financial office district, is characterized by numerous restored four- and five-story commercial structures, representing several centuries of New York City mercantile history. BFJ proposed rezoning to adjust the underlying C6-4 zoning to C6-2A, a contextual zone, which allows a scale more compatible with the Seaport’s 18th-and 19th-century architectural value and overall character and provides a scale more consistent with the policy of New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Client Manhattan Community Board 1 Year 2001

Featured Projects. Virgin Islands Housing Demand Study U.S. Virgin Islands BFJ Planning and Urbanomics reviewed the housing conditions and future housing needs in St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, on behalf of the U.S. Virgin Islands Housing and Finance Authority (HFA). As part of this study, the project team evaluated the local economy of the Virgin Islands, updated demographic characteristics, and identified deficiencies in the existing housing stock, such as overcrowding and affordability issues. In order to assess the residential real estate market, the team identified housing market trends and gathered building permit data. The project team predicted future housing needs based on the projected increase in the number of households, and also compared projections to the current rate at which housing was being built to determine if housing supply was keeping pace with market demand. Based on these findings, the team assessed the feasibility of several housing developments proposed by the HFA for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mapping was done with “Mapbasics,” a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software program, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Community 2020 software package. Client U.S. Virgin Islands Housing and Finance Authority (HFA) Year

Featured Projects. White Plains Linen Redevelopment Feasibility Study Peekskill, New York The City of Peekskill retained BFJ Planning to analyze the development potential for a complex of buildings formerly occupied by a large industrial cleaners company. The study assessed the market for a range of potential uses and explored various scenarios to maximize development potential while limiting impacts on the adjacent neighborhood. The scenarios were tested with the public at interactive workshops to ensure that they had community buy-in. In addition, the study proposed several zoning code revisions to facilitate the full range of development alternatives on the privately owned, 1.1-acre site, which is located just north of Peekskill’s downtown. Client City of Peekskill Year 2016

Featured Projects. Atrium at Sumner CEQR, SEQR and NEPA Review New York, New York On behalf of Urban Builders Collaborative, LLC, Selfhelp Community Services, Inc., and RiseBoro Community Partnership, BFJ planning served as a consultant to guide the client through the CEQR, SEQR and NEPA review processes for an affordable housing development under the Next Generation NYCHA program. The project involved the disposition of public housing property in accordance with Section 18 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to facilitate the development of a new 10-story mixed-use affordable senior building, designed to Passive House standards, in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Community District 3. The Project Site, located at 43 and 67 Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York, is an infill site within the NYCHA Sumner Houses campus. The project included the development of 8,000 square feet of community facility space and 189 units of affordable housing targeted to moderate and low income seniors with incomes ranging from 30% to 50% of the area median income. The project also included construction financing from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC). BFJ Planning prepared the required CEQR Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS), SEQR Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA). Potential impacts analyzed during the environmental review process included open space, transportation, air quality, noise, shadows, and hazardous materials. The project involved inter-agency meeting with NYCHA and HPD as well as a meeting and presentation to the Sumner Houses Tenant Association. The project is in the final stages of project approvals. Client New York City Housing Authority Year 2018

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

Featured Projects. Pleasantville Comprehensive Plan and Planning Advisory Services Pleasantville, New York Comprehensive Plan (2016) BFJ Planning was retained by the Village of Pleasantville to update its Master Plan, with a primary focus on the Central Business District. The Village was interested in building on the economic development potential of key downtown assets such as its Metro-North train station, the Jacob Burns Film Center and municipally owned land, while preserving Pleasantville’s small-scale character and quality of life. The Plan was prepared in close cooperation with the Village Board, who took an active role in drafting the Plan’s content and recommendations, and also incorporated an interactive public outreach process. Key recommendations included downtown zoning revisions and intersection improvements to enhance walkability and create new public open space. Zoning Code Revisions (2017 and 2021) As a follow-up to the Master Plan work, BFJ prepared a series of zoning code revisions focused on the downtown area. The revisions provided greater flexibility in developing multifamily housing in the Central Business District, including a package of zoning incentives to facilitate mixed-use, transit-oriented development, as well as changes to required parking. In 2021, in response to concerns about the scale of new residential devleopment, BFJ prepared revisions to the Village’s single-family zoning districts to incorporate floor area ratio (FAR) provisions. All of these zoning efforts also included environmental review to ensure compliance with SEQR regulations. Transit-Oriented Development Review (2018-2020) BFJ reviewed the first development project to use the new downtown zoning development incentives, a proposed 110,000-square-foot mixed-use building fronting Memorial Plaza, across from the train station. The project, under construction as of 2021, includes 79 apartment units and ground-floor retail space over three stories of structured parking. It will also incorporate a public linear park connecting Memorial Plaza with a Village-owned parking lot to the rear of the building, and improvements to the street serving the lot and the proposed building, to re-establish a street grid and enhance circulation. The building’s parking garage will provide for a shared parking supply that can accommodate local merchants and employees as well as rail commuters. Downtown Parking Study (2019 and 2021) The Village retained BFJ to study options to mitigate the loss of public parking spaces resulting from the redesign of Memorial Plaza. Work included a parking occupancy survey of all downtown on- and off-street parking and a review of possibilities for expanding capacity through reconfiguration of spaces, permitting changes, and parking management strategies. BFJ recommended a permit pricing strategy to shift parking demand to high-occupancy areas to areas with more vacancies, as well as improvements the parking payment and enforcement system and better dissemination of parking information. Client Village of Pleasantville Year 2016-2021

Featured Projects. Westport Downtown Plan Westport, Connecticut In 2001 the Town of Westport had determined that a number of emerging issues would affect the downtown. The Town had purchased a former estate on 22 acres in close proximity to the downtown core. Questions as to whether the land should remain as open space or used for some other purpose began to arise from residents. At the same time, the long-time downtown YMCA had outgrown its facility and hoped to find a new location. Other organizations also required new or additional space for their public functions. BFJ Planning (BFJ) developed a plan that considered a range of options, and then prepared a final plan to assist the Town with future land use decisions. After meeting with individuals and organizations, BFJ prepared three alternatives using guiding principles to retain the New England character of the downtown, enhance riverfront use and access, and provide greater connectivity among amenities. The final Downtown Plan retained all uses that help to create walking opportunities rather than driving destinations. BFJ recommended pedestrian access to the major attractions, street improvements to enhance the Town’s strong retail locations and public activities, and retention of open space for the benefit of future generations. Client Town of Westport, Connecticut Year 2001

Featured Projects. Garment District MSMX New York, NY As a part of New York City’s City of Yes initiative, broad changes were made to the zoning resolution to allow for denser housing development and more flexible uses. The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) nests within City of Yes with the specific goal of making Midtown South a 24/7 mixed use neighborhood by increasing FAR allowances when building residential developments in areas previously zoned as manufacturing. As a result of the changes, property owners with lots in the MSMX zone have a new incentive to high density housing that would previously been non-compliant with the zoning resolution. The Garment District Alliance asked BFJ Planning determine which lots are most likely to consider redevelopment and illustrate what the changes to the neighborhood’s skyline would be if this redevelopment were to occur. BFJ surveyed the neighborhood to identify soft sites that were most likely to take advantage of the new zoning regulations and created a 3D massing model based on the newly permissible FARs and building heights in residential development to demonstrate the possible changes to density, skyline, and light access in the neighborhood. Client Garment District Alliance Year 2025

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. Hanoi Capital Master Plan Hanoi, Vietnam BFJ Planning worked with an international team of planners and architects to prepare a new master plan for Greater Hanoi, an area of over 3,000 square kilometers. The master plan included proposals for future urban development; a comprehensive transportation network and future land use patterns for the year 2030, with a vision for 2050. Important planning goals included the need to maintain and enhance the city’s unique historic and cultural resources; to revitalize the existing small towns and villages surrounding the City; and to preserve important farmland and woodland areas located within the region. The Plan received an AIA New York Chapter Urban Design Merit Award in 2011. Client Year 2010

Featured Projects. Stapleton Senior Houses Environmental Assessment Staten Island, New York BFJ Planning (BFJ) was retained by BFC Partners, in conjunction with Community Agency for Senior Citizens, to prepare a federal Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a new low-income residential housing project, consisting of 105 low-income rental senior units, on a 1.07-acre portion of the Stapleton Houses property, located at 210 Broad Street. The project required the disposition of the 1.07-acre parcel to BFC Partners which required both United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) approvals. The project also required authorization to exceed the height and setback requirements in an R5 Residential Zoning District pursuant to New York Zoning Resolution and a Mayoral override of New York City Zoning Resolution parking and groundfloor use requirements. NYCHA was required to provide parking for 42.5% of the units located at the NYCHA Stapleton Housing Complex. In addition, the project required an amendment to the official City Map to eliminate an existing sewer easement as well as Subdivision Plat Approval. The EA was prepared to satisfy both the requirements of the NEPA and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). In addition, since the project was located in New York City, the EA used the methodology contained in the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Technical Manual to determine project impacts. The EA included detailed analyses of land use impacts, visual resources and shadows, traffic and parking, noise, and construction impacts. The project received a negative declaration from NYCHA in 2007. Client BFC Partners Year 2007