New Planning Commissioner for White Plains
Elizabeth Chetney has been selected by the White Plains city administration to replace long-time Planning Commissioner Susan B. Habel who retired in August.
The Common Council is expected to approve the hire at Monday evening’s monthly council meeting.
In a media release issued last week Mayor Thomas Roach explained that Cheteny has had broad experience in the field of planning. She has worked in the public and private sectors; for governments, not-for-profits and in academia.
“As a senior land use planner and economist with more than 25 years of experience, Cheteny has directed planning projects involving municipal and institutional comprehensive planning, zoning, environmental review, as well as historic, scenic, and open space preservation,” the release stated.
Most recently, Cheteny served as the Environmental Program Manager for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, at which she directed all aspects of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) of a new clinical science center proposed for the campus. Prior to that, Cheteny served as Director of Planning for the Urban Design Project, a center in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. She was also a vice president at the environmental and planning firm, AKRF, working in their offices in New York City and Westchester County, and eventually, opening and managing their western New York office.
Cheteny has extensive government and not-for-profit experience as well. She is a former trustee in the Village of East Aurora, New York; she co-founded the Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway; and is a board member of the Chestnut Ridge Conservancy and Western New York Land Conservancy. Several of her projects have received awards from the American Planning Association, including the Olmstead City – Buffalo Olmstead Park System: Plan for the 21st Century and the Niagara Falls Main Street Plan.
Cheteny has led economic revitalization studies for municipalities around the state. She has managed a number of environmental impact statements (EISs) for large-scale projects in the New York City metropolitan area, and conducted numerous socioeconomic and fiscal impact studies on development proposals, tourism-related projects, and recreational projects.
Mayor Roach said, “Betty Cheteny brings an extraordinary breadth of experience to the City’s Planning Department. Whether working with municipal governments, academic institutions, health care institutions or private sector clients, Ms. Cheteny has brought a thoughtful and informed approach to planning. Her collaborative nature has enabled her to work successfully with community organizations and other stakeholders on a wide variety of projects. I believe that Ms. Cheteny will build on the strengths of our Planning Department and help White Plains continue to move forward in a dynamic, smart and progressive fashion.”
Chetney comes to the Planning Department at a time when the city is considering two controversial land use applications. One, generated by the city, is a proposed change to the city’s zoning ordinance to create an Open Space Recreation District that would affect future uses for Maple Moor Golf Course, Westchester Hills Golf Club and the French American School of New York (FASNY) property located at the site of the former Ridgeway Country Club.
The other is an application by FASNY for a special use permit to run a regional educational institution in a residential district.
Cheteny holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her salary will be $144,330.
