Highland Planning LLC

Excited to share that our Vision Zero Safety Action Plan work with the Capital Region Transportation Council was recently featured on CBS6 Albany! 🎉 At Highland Planning, we've been working closely with the community to gather insights on improving pedestrian safety, particularly around schools. Through creative engagement strategies including walking tours, interactive design stations for all ages, and targeted focus groups, we're helping build safer streets throughout Albany. The results already show reduced speeds around neighborhoods, fewer speeding tickets near schools, and a community that feels heard in the planning process. "It's been noticeable how much slower traffic is going around my house, which is great," shared one resident during our workshop. "It's much more comfortable with the traffic going 20 to 25." We're proud to help communities transform their roadways into safer spaces for everyone. This is what "Listen. Design. Transform." looks like in action! 📺 Watch the full news segment: https://lnkd.in/eFPzBHY3 #PublicEngagement #VisionZero #TransportationPlanning #RoadSafety #CommunityInput #HighlandPlanning

On behalf of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health, we're excited to share a valuable opportunity for municipalities: 🚰 The Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) is offering FREE technical assistance to help protect your community's public water sources. Key Dates: Virtual Info Session: February 4, 11 am Application Deadline: February 28, 4 pm Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eBp7Qr9E #DrinkingWater #NYState #WaterProtection #LocalGov

We are seeking a dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead our expanding planning + design studio across New York State. 🌆 This position can be based in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, or Albany. This role offers an exciting opportunity to drive operational excellence for our clients and partners while honoring people, making it sparkle, and embracing change. ✨ The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of consulting experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for innovative, community-focused planning and design. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZb7X88e #Planning #UrbanDesign #PublicEngagement #Leadership #CommunityDevelopment

 🎉 We're excited to announce that Anagha Arunkumar has joined our growing team across New York State as our newest Urban Designer/Planner at Highland Planning LLC.   🌟 Anagha, a Columbia University graduate with a Master's in Architecture and Urban Design, brings a passion for honoring communities through thoughtful, inclusive design. Her sparkle shines through a multi-disciplinary approach that embraces change and innovation—combining evidence-based research with hands-on experience to bridge the gap between communities, designers, and policymakers. Her commitment to creating supportive environments will help build more resilient and equitable communities.   🗽 Anagha lives in New York City, and in her free time, she enjoys 📚 reading, 🥾 hiking, 🎵 singing, and exploring cafes and bookstores.   #UrbanDesign #CommunityEngagement #Planning #WelcomeToTheTeam #ListenDesignTransform

Highland Planning is proud to have helped the Village of Dolgeville secure $1.75M in Green Resiliency Grant funding for the North Main Street Waterfront Park Project. This transformative project will create the village's first publicly accessible connection to East Canada Creek and also significantly enhance the village's environmental resilience. It incorporates innovative green infrastructure, including tree trenches, infiltration basins, and porous pavement walking paths. Thank you to NYS Governor Hochul and the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation for supporting sustainable, community-driven projects that enhance environmental resilience and quality of life. This achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of the Dolgeville community. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/eR6v9D9U #CommunityDevelopment #GreenInfrastructure #Sustainability #NYState #PublicSpaces

We're Hiring! As Highland Planning grows across New York State, we seek a Practice Leader with 8+ years of consulting experience to oversee planning and design projects across the Capital Region/Mohawk Valley. The ideal candidate brings strong project management skills, expertise in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite and ArcGIS Pro, and a passion for innovative public engagement and community design. You'll thrive in our collaborative environment if you share our values of honoring people, making it sparkle, and embracing change. Must have a Master's degree in landscape architecture, urban design, planning, or related field. AICP/landscape architecture license is a plus. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eZb7X88e

🌟 Highland Planning Joins High Falls State Park Design Team! 🌟 As part of a collaborative effort led by landscape architecture firm OLIN, we’ll work alongside other local consultants to bring this transformative project to life. The new state park, the centerpiece of the “ROC The Riverway” initiative, will showcase the stunning Genesee Gorge and play a crucial role in revitalizing downtown Rochester. This $8 million New York State investment will create a unique urban oasis, blending the unparalleled natural beauty of the Genesee Gorge with the rich industrial history of Rochester. Read the full news release from Empire State Development to learn more about this exciting project and upcoming community engagement opportunities. https://lnkd.in/e7Gugqqw

Our Senior Community Engagement Planner, Julie Boasi, MPA, will be attending The New York Public Transit Association's Annual Conference! As the largest gathering of public transit professionals in NY, this conference is a hub for learning, networking, and exploring innovative solutions. Julie looks forward to connecting with fellow transit enthusiasts, sharing Highland Planning's expertise in community engagement, and discovering new ways to enhance public transportation for all. Are you attending #NYPTA2024? Julie would love to meet up! Please feel free to drop a comment below or message her to schedule a chat about how we can collaborate. Together, we can create more accessible, sustainable, and community-driven transit solutions. #PublicTransit #CommunityEngagement #TransportationPlanning #NYTransit #HighlandPlanning #NYPTA #APTA

We're thrilled to announce that Highland Planning's work on the City of Rochester's Urban Forest Master Plan has won the Public Outreach Award from the American Planning Association - New York Upstate Chapter! 🌳🏆 Our CEO, Tanya Zwahlen, shared her excitement: "The 2024 Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan showcases the power of innovative community engagement, celebrating and reimagining our urban forest. The excitement for this process was palpable, and the city's beautiful trees are more visible as a result. If you have never written a love letter to a tree, I cannot recommend it enough." We're proud to have played a role in shaping Rochester's green future and are honored by this recognition from the APA. Here's to growing greener, more vibrant communities together! Read more about the award and the plan here: https://lnkd.in/e9asHGcD #UrbanPlanning #CommunityEngagement #AwardWinning #UrbanForestry

🌳 Join Highland Planning at the 2024 American Planning Association - New York Upstate Chapter Conference! 🏙️ We're excited to announce our participation and sponsorship in this year's October 9-11 Conference at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center. Join us for a coffee break: 📅 Thursday, October 10 ⏰ 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Don't miss our session with the City of Rochester: "The Importance of the Urban Forest in Fighting Climate Change and Building Community" 📅 Friday, October 11 ⏰ 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM. We look forward to connecting with fellow planners and discussing innovative strategies for sustainable urban development. See you there! #UrbanPlanning #ClimateAction #APA2024 #HighlandPlanning Tanya Zwahlen Elizabeth Podowski King, PLA, AICP Heike Jacob, AICP Nora Mary Culhane Friedel Leanne Voit, AICP Stephanie Hyde American Planning Association