Mayor Rolison has announced that City Planning Director Natalie Quinn has been named Development Director.
Quinn, a city resident, has been serving as Planning Director since 2019 and has led long-range strategic planning efforts for the city through the development and implementation of the Poughkeepsie Innovation District policy and zoning code update, certification through the State’s Climate Smart Communities program, , and the underway update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. She also has assisted local property owners and developers to shepherd development proposals through the city’s land-use review and approval processes.
As Development Director, Quinn will serve as a primary contact for various city organizations, business groups, and professional associations, non-profits and will be responsible for overseeing the Development Department, including Building, Planning, Youth, and Social Development.
“Natalie has a wide range of experiences and has done an excellent job as the city’s Planning Director,” said Mayor Rob Rolison. “She has helped to shape the city administration’s vision for the city and continues to carry out those duties, including leading our public outreach and planning efforts to make the first substantial changes to our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Laws in 20 years.”
“I am honored to be taking this position,” said Quinn. “From the moment I stepped off the train in Poughkeepsie, I could see the potential. It is a city with complexity, diversity, and historic urban form, but it also boasts the charm and approachability of a classic Hudson River village. I wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else.”
Quinn joined the City of Poughkeepsie as Senior City Planner in January 2018. Previously, she worked in the private, public and non-profit planning sectors in New York City. As Junior Associate at Kevin Dwarka Land Use & Economic Consulting, she provided municipal clients throughout the New York Metro Region with expert regulatory and policy analysis focused on the rejuvenation of commercial districts, achievement of smart growth principles, and adoption of transit-supportive land use policies. Prior to KDLLC, Quinn worked at the New York City Department of City Planning, Bike New York, and Citizens Planning Association in Santa Barbara, California.
Quinn holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University’s Graduate School for Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Barbara where she majored in Environmental Studies and Geological Science.
