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.
Meet The Peekskill Plan Resident Advisory Committee (RAC)!
The RAC is a group of 12 community members who were selected through an open public application and lottery process. These residents will provide insight from lived experience, local knowledge, and neighborhood perspectives throughout the development of The Peekskill Plan. RAC members will participate in meetings, review materials, and serve as ambassadors to the broader public.
The official announcement was made on July 13th at the Common Council meeting by the City's Director of Planning & Development.
Applicants who were not selected for the Committee will have the opportunity to participate in other ways, including as Community Ambassadors and through upcoming public meetings, workshops, and office hours.
Gabriel Berger
A lifelong Peekskill resident and recent college graduate who brings the perspective of younger residents and a commitment to helping more young people engage in civic life.
Elizabeth Castaldo
An artist and educator, who has lived in Peekskill with her family for 10 years. She contributes her perspectives as a member of the creative community, a long time renter, and parent of a student in Peekskill City Schools.
Nicholas Costa
A software engineer and renter who offers a data-driven perspective and the viewpoint of newer residents building long-term roots in Peekskill.
Glyne Elcock
A retired attorney, banker, and immigrant whose experience in law, banking, and mortgage finance, combined with a strong commitment to community service, brings valuable perspective on housing, development, and civic life.
Ernest Faulkner
A retired NYPD officer, mentor, NAACP member, community advocate, and man of faith who brings decades of public service and civic involvement in Peekskill.
Justina Grayman
A psychologist, artist, educator, and business owner who brings a creative, community-building perspective and a passion for just and needs-focused spaces.
Juan Guzman
A proud Peekskill native and school district alumnus who works in business strategy. Having witnessed the city's many chapters, he is committed to helping shape Peekskill's future by collaborating with residents to support thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable growth that benefits the entire community.
Leslie Harden
A healthcare leader and nurse manager who sees the gap between policy and practice every day and brings a grounded perspective on how community decisions ultimately affect real people and families.
Maggie Leung
A current College Librarian and former Teen Services Librarian at The Field Library. She brings firsthand insight into the experiences and needs of Peekskill's youth, families, seniors, immigrants, and other diverse community members.
Julia Miranda-Roach
A lifelong Peekskill resident and young professional who brings the perspective of a new generation, advocating for growth while preserving the affordability, character, and diversity that define our community.
Tim Warn
A longtime Peekskill resident and community volunteer who brings experience connecting people through local history, community programming, and public engagement, with a focus on ensuring residents' voices are heard.
Stephen Watts
An environmental professional who combines expertise in waterfront permitting and sustainability with a deep appreciation for the natural resources, outdoor recreation, and community character that make Peekskill unique.
Meet The Peekskill Plan Steering Committee (SC)!
Carol Samol
Department of Planning & Development, Director
Peter Erwin
Department of Planning & Development, Assistant Director
Ruth Wells
Planning Commission, Vice Chair
Shaun Petruzelli
Building Department, Deputy Building Inspector
Lt. Kevin Ferris
Fire Department, Lieutenant
Deborah Post
Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Chairperson
Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation, President
City of Peekskill Local Development Corporation, President
Rachel John
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Board Member
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
