Meet The Team
A New Comprehensive Plan for Peekskill, NY
The Peekskill Plan is a collaborative effort led by the City of Peekskill, bringing together local leadership, community members, and technical expertise to shape a shared vision for the city’s future.
Guided by the Department of Planning & Development and supported by a multidisciplinary consultant team, the process is grounded in both professional insight and local knowledge. The Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC)—a group of residents, civic leaders, and stakeholders—helps guide the plan’s direction and ensure it reflects community priorities.
Most importantly, the plan is shaped by the people of Peekskill. Through workshops, surveys, and ongoing engagement, residents, business owners, and organizations play a central role in defining the vision and strategies that will guide the city forward.
City of Peekskill Department of Planning & Development
The Department of Planning & Development maintains Peekskill’s zoning code and implements public space and infrastructure improvements in keeping with Peekskill’s long-term vision. The Department’s professional staff provides the technical assistance necessary for Peekskill’s citizen-led Boards and Commissions to make informed decisions, and advises the City Manager, Mayor and Common Council on land use, development, and historic preservation.
Director
Carol Samol
914-734-4218
csamol@cityofpeekskillny.gov
Assistant Director
Peter Erwin
914-734-8417
perwin@cityofpeekskillny.gov
Planner
Samuel Warden-Hertz
914-734-4214
SWarden-Hertz@cityofpeekskillny.gov
The Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC)
A representative body guiding the overall direction of the plan, building consensus, and connecting the planning process to the broader community. The CPC includes:
Steering Committee (SC)
City-appointed staff and officials who provide technical guidance, policy alignment, and institutional knowledge to ensure strategies are feasible, actionable, and consistent with City priorities.
Resident Advisory Committee (RAC)
Community members selected through an open public application and lottery process who provide insight from lived experience, local knowledge, and neighborhood perspectives. RAC members participate in meetings, review materials, and serve as ambassadors to the broader public.
Thematic Working Groups (TWGs)
Issue-focused groups that provide targeted input on the plan's Focus Areas. While the CPC is responsible for land use, the Thematic Working Groups convene staff, residents, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to explore:
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Transportation and Mobility
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Housing
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Economic Development
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Sustainability and Resilience
Community Ambassadors
Get Involved with The Peekskill Plan as a Community Ambassador!
The City of Peekskill is seeking Expressions of Interest from active and well-connected community members to serve as informal Community Ambassadors during the development of the City's new Comprehensive Plan.
What are Community Ambassadors?
Community Ambassadors are trusted representatives from local organizations, neighborhood groups, faith-based institutions, schools, and businesses across Peekskill. They serve as liaisons between the planning process and the communities they represent—sharing information, promoting engagement opportunities, and gathering input.
By working through established relationships and meeting people where they are, Ambassadors help expand participation beyond traditional outreach and support a more inclusive and representative planning process. Participation is flexible and allows Ambassadors to engage at key moments throughout the initiative.
The Consultant Team
