Free Virtual Event and Panel
Hosted by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress and Sustainable Hudson Valley
From rural to urban areas, zoning impacts our built environment, how we live, the amount of carbon we emit, and our ability to adapt to a changing climate. In this event, elected officials and experienced urban and community planners will discuss the relationship between land use and climate change. They will share local examples of zoning changes and other strategies that have been implemented to promote climate-friendly and resilient communities.
Panelists Include:
Mayor Thomas Roach, City of White Plains
Natalie Quinn, Director of Planning, KARC Planning Consultants
Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives, City of Kingston
Panel moderated by Kate Stryker, Director of Resilient Community Planning, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress.
About the Panelists:
Mayor Thomas Roach
Mayor Thomas Roach is the 18th Mayor of the City of White Plains. Mayor Roach remains committed to his values, which guides his leadership of the City of White Plains. His overarching goals during his tenure as Mayor ensures quality, equity and sustainability in the City of White Plains.
Mayor Roach seeks to do the following:
Maintain a diverse city where everyone experiences a high quality of life;
Invest in and improve the City’s downtown to ensure that the city’s municipal services and retail and service industries meet the needs of the City’s diverse and dynamic community;
Ensure sustainable practices are top of mind when municipal infrastructure are upgraded and development plans are contemplated;
Remain financially stable when delivering high-quality municipal services to residents of the City of White Plains.
Natalie Quinn
Natalie Quinn is an urban planner and project manager with 10+ years of experience working in both the private and public sector. With a master’s degree in urban planning from Columbia University, Natalie has provided municipal clients across the Hudson Valley with expert regulatory and policy guidance focused on the rejuvenation of commercial districts, achievement of smart growth principles, and adoption of transit-supportive land use policies. As the Director of Planning & Development at KARC Planning Consultants, Natalie leverages her experience in municipal planning to guide real estate projects that prioritize sustainable development that is responsive to community needs. Based in Poughkeepsie, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, livable spaces that balance growth with environmental responsibility. In her spare time, Natalie can be found rowing on the Hudson River with her crew team or exploring the region’s many rail trails.
Bartek Starodaj
Bartek Starodaj is currently the Director of Housing Initiatives for the City of Kingston, where he leads strategic initiatives to improve the range of housing options for all residents. He led the City’s successful 2023 action to adopt a new form-based zoning code in 2023 and works to ensure the City will meet its goal of approving 1,000 new housing units by 2029. He also led the City's recent effort that allowed Kingston to become the first Upstate community to opt into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act.
Prior to joining the City of Kingston, Bartek served on the German Marshall Fund’s Urban and Regional Policy team fostering transatlantic development initiatives for major U.S. and European cities. Bartek is also a founding board member of the Kingston City Land Bank. Bartek lives in Kingston with his wife and two young children. He is a native Polish speaker.