Liz Axelson, AICP / Email: lad6b85e@westpost.

net
Supervisor of Planning and Development: Motivated and organized to orchestrate
and provide extensive planning, development, environmental and administrative se
rvices to a municipality, including:
* Facilitating land development applications and zoning petitions while respondi
ng to agency and public concerns;
* Persisting with comprehensive planning and zoning efforts, amendments to or an
alysis of land development and environmental regulations and stormwater or other
environmental/planning programs;
* Guiding Town and Planning Boards through necessary review and administrative p
rocedures towards reasonable approvals and adoption of laws, regulations and ame
ndments;
* Reducing time spent by Board members in meetings and enhancing productivity;
* Supervising and operating as part of a team with colleagues, staff and consult
ing professionals and related local, regional, state and federal agencies; and
* Tending to funding, budgeting and administrative matters.
Personable and helpful in responding to inquiries of the public and needs of fel
low staff members. Able to prioritize, put out fires and proceed with a multitu
de of projects. Openness to a variety of projects and ongoing learning has enri
ched over 22 years of experience.

Recent Employment: Independent planning and development projects and Census work
in 2010.
Senior Planner at Tim Miller Associates, Inc. from March of 2008 to May, 2009, i
ncluding part-time work in 2009 and 2010.

Previous Employment: Director of Planning for the Town of North Salem from March
of 1999 to January, 2008.
Senior Planner at Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates, Inc. from May of 1987 to March
of 1999, including 8 years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

Professional Capacity: As a supervisor in a municipal planning department, I bri

ng a depth of experience drawing on my years as Director of Planning in North Sa
lem and in other communities as a private consultant.
Land Development and Environmental Advisement and Assistance - Guided Planning a
nd Town Boards in the Town of North Salem in Westchester County, and other Towns
as a private consultant, by coordinating and conducting review of land develop
ment plans and environmental documents, reviewing and preparing comments, attend
ing Board meetings, providing notification, decision and action documents and ma
intaining contact with the public, applicants, Town consultants and related agen
cies, professionals and parties. Dealt with scenic, visual, historical, agricult
ural, watershed, stormwater, natural resource, local business concerns and other
issues.
Community and Economic Development - Prepared and assisted with project developm
ent and grant applications to HUD, NYC Watershed agencies and other funding agen
cies. Communicated and met with housing authority representatives, agency repres
entatives, resident groups, property owners and municipal officers to gather pro
ject and financial information, provide notices, resolutions and other materials
needed as evidence for applications for and administration of approved funding.
Worked with local businesses and decision-makers to facilitate development prop
osals.
Development Applications and Environmental and Procedural Assistance - Guided La
nd Development Applicants through application procedures before local municipal
boards as a project manager, by coordinating with project team members and revie
wing officials and preparing application and environmental review documents, inc
luding Environmental Impact Statements and attending Board meetings.
Adoption of Comprehensive Plan Update - Completed Comprehensive Plan Update (CPU
) process with North Salem Town Board and Planning Board beginning with intensiv
e community/citizen workshop sessions, involving preparation of materials for al
l committee, workshop and follow-up meetings; outreach to local groups and citiz
ens; coordinating and moderating meetings and workshops; compilation of numerous
versions of the CPU, Basic Studies Update Report; conducting questionnaire proc
ess; and preparing most review and adoption documents. Conducted research and as
sisted with preparation of comprehensive plan and waterfront revitalization plan
(LWRP) in the Town of Lloyd. Assisted with and commented on comprehensive and w
aterfront planning in other Hudson Valley municipalities.
Zoning and Regulations Enacted - Initiated and completed all phases of amendment
s to zoning through adoption involving the preparation of draft, revised and ref
ined local laws and related planning and environmental review documents for Plan
ning and Town Boards (multi-family, site plan, cell tower, commercial). Present
ed planning issues and documents to agencies and the public; provided procedural
assistance; and contacted related agencies, professionals and members of the pu
blic. Conducted or participated in similar processes regarding other regulations
, local laws and districts (stormwater, flood maps/law, Eastern Westchester Biot
ic Corridor and subdivision regulations, etc).
Conducted SEQR Review - Prepared and reviewed documentation for all phases of Ne
w York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) processes. Managed SEQR proces
ses involving synchronizing with other approval or adoption processes; coordinat
ing the commentary of all involved and interested agencies, parties and the publ
ic; and moderating public meetings. Well-versed in numerous word-processing, spr
eadsheet, publishing, billing/budgeting, agency forms; mapping, presentation, in
ternet, email and other computer applications.
Accessible to Public and Staff - Aided staff and residents, property owners, ent
repreneurs, realtors and others in understanding land development, planning, zon
ing, required approval and permitting processes; obtaining planning and zoning d
ocuments; finding mapped information, property records and environmental informa
tion; and contacting appropriate agencies and professionals. Assisted staff with
computer programs and troubleshooting.
Litigation Support - Preventive approach involves proceeding carefully and defen
sively in all matters. Assisted municipalities in responding to litigation, incl
uding preparing rebuttal reports, chronology and affidavits; assembling records;
and providing expert testimony (City of Newburgh v. Schaffner; North Salem case
s). Guided compliance with settlements and court decisions, including all necess
ary documentation, attendance at meetings and facilitating projects. Coordinated
and completed remedy to a court order (Continental Building Co. vs. Town of Nor
th Salem) resulting in inclusionary rezoning of multiple sites for multi-family
development, zoning map and text amendments, preparation of Generic Environmenta
l Impact Statements (DGEIS and FGEIS) and involving all aspects of public and ag
ency review.

Education:
Master of Science in Urban-Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Ins
titute, Troy, New York, degree received in August 1987.
Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods (concentration in the Politics
of Foods, a self-design major) from University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont,
degree received in May 1984.

Professional Certification/Education: AICP (American Institute of Certified Plan

ners) certification; Attended NJ Governor's Conference on Housing (September 28-
29, 2010); and Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop (June 17, 2010); AICP
workshops and courses on sustainable/mixed use economic development; redevelopme
nt, revitalization and funding; housing, residential density/development standar
ds; inclusionary housing; watershed planning; LEED, green and energy efficient p
lanning/building; health impact assessments; transportation; community engagemen
t; agricultural preservation; ethics; case law; and gas drilling.

Personal Aspects: Physically active (walking, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country

skiing, dancing, biking, boating, etc.); Music lover; Travel/road trips enjoyin
g urban and rural places, historical and scenic sites, local stores and restaura
nts and waterfront activities; Ran religious education program and taught for 15
+ years a Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Outstanding Service Award); Coach
ed youth soccer and ran youth cross-country ski program; and involved in other c
ommunity organizations. Responsible for care and personal affairs of elderly par
ent.

References available upon request.