WCA and Land Use Law Center Release First Chapter of WCA’s Policy Playbook; New Rochelle, New Castle, and Cortlandt Honored for Achievements in Land Use Planning
Rye Brook, NY [May 24, 2018] – In an effort to bring together the region’s top leaders in commercial and residential real estate, the Westchester County Association (WCA) – Westchester’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization – hosted the 2nd Annual Real Estate Summit at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook on Tuesday.
Ken Meyer, Real Estate Services Consulting Leader at Deloitte, delivered the keynote address to an audience of more than 250 business and municipal leaders. Meyer explored themes and examples of how technology innovations will impact the real estate industry. He said that the future widespread use of driverless cars, for instance, will vastly decrease the need for onsite parking in urban areas, spurring city leaders and developers to plan new uses for these spaces. Bob Paley, Director of Transit-Oriented Development at the MTA, Meghan Taylor, Empire State Development Mid-Hudson Regional Director, and Kate Slevin, Regional Plan Association Senior Vice President, presented on the ways that cities and towns in Westchester are promoting real estate development and growth policies.
Jessica Bacher, Executive Director of the Pace University Land Use Law Center, joined by Bill Cuddy, CBRE Executive Vice President and WCA Smart Growth Chairman, unveiled the first chapter of the WCA Policy Playbook, a joint initiative of the WCA and Pace University’s Land Use Law Center to streamline and improve the planning, zoning and approval processes across municipalities in Westchester County.
WCA and the Land Use Law Center recognized New Rochelle, New Castle, and Cortlandt with special awards marking their achievements in implementing land use policy best practices. New Rochelle, New Castle and Cortlandt were the first recipients to be honored as a part of the Playbook’s recognition program.
“The 2nd Annual Real Estate Summit brought the private and public sectors together to discuss how we can advance initiatives, policies, and innovations that help create opportunities and remove barriers to smart growth and economic development,” said William M. Mooney, Jr. president and CEO of the WCA. “Westchester is at an inflection point, and private-public exchange is paramount to the continued growth and overall economic vitality of the county.”