NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Longtime North Salem Planning Board Chair Cynthia Curtis is being honored by the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation for her efforts “to protect and improve the quality of life in Westchester County.”
Curtis will receive a Distinguished Citizen Planner Award at the organization’s annual dinner in Irvington on Thursday, May 29.
It is given to individuals who have made “outstanding and special contributions” while serving on municipal land use boards, including planning, zoning and conservation boards.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and flabbergasted,” Curtis said last week, adding: “I’ve always enjoyed being on the Planning Board so to have recognition like this is over the top.
Vision and Community
This year’s theme is “Bridging vision and community” and the event honored “planners, municipal leaders, and visionaries shaping the future of our region.”
The Town Board nominated Curtis for the award.
Town Clerk Maria Hlushko gathered up the accolades and sent them to the WMPF folks.
In her letter, Hlushko wrote that Curtis “is a very dedicated chair of the Planning Board who strives to uphold the rural and historic character of our small town.”
“Since I was elected in 2019, Cynthia has been extremely helpful in guiding me with our town code, dealing with residents who are looking to develop their properties, assisting in proofing adopted Town laws, and pretty much anything else I throw at her!” she said, noting that Curtis “is not a paid employee and receives no compensation for her hours of dedication.”
“She spends many days at Town Hall and evenings at Planning Board meetings. I cannot think of a better person to be our Distinguished Citizen Planner!” Hlushko added.
Sending supporting letters were Christopher Brockmeyer and Edward Isler, members of the Planning Board; Charlotte Harris and Gary Jacobi, past Planning Board members; and Councilwoman Katherine Daniels.
Curtis was instrumental in the rewrite of the Town’s Zoning Code (1987) based upon the town’s newly adopted Master Plan (1985).
She’s been praised for being “meticulous” about addressing issues that concern residents and about controlling both spending and preserving the town’s character.
Curtis has worked closely with the town clerk and town attorney to codify the entire set of local laws and town ordinances.
Volunteerism
Curtis has a long history of volunteerism.
She moved to Croton Falls in 1977 where she and her husband, Frank, raised three children.
Curtis was a member of the Town Board from 1990 to 1993 and again from 1995 to 2005.
She was on the Planning Board from 1985 to 1989 and rejoined the board in 2008. She’s served as its chair ever since.
Curtis is a current trustee (secretary) and past president of the North Salem Historical Society and had also been on the North Salem Historic Preservation Committee.
She has belonged to the North Salem Improvement Society for more than 30 years (10 years as president).
Curtis was a trustee of the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library from 2006 to 2011 and its treasurer from 2009-2011.
Curtis also belongs to the North Salem Open Land Foundation and volunteers on its Trails Committee.
Under her leadership, the Planning Board has presented several town code amendments to the Town Board – most recently ones involving residential lighting and short-term rentals.
She has been a liaison to the Comprehensive Planning Committee, had previously prepared all the town’s stormwater reports, and currently heads the Croton Falls Master Plan Committee
Other Recipients
Other recipients of the Distinguished Citizen Planner Award this year are Janet Andersen (Planning Board chair) and Katie McGinn (Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee chair) of Lewisboro, the late Nancy Gerbino of Somers (Planning Board member), Christine Wagner of Croton-on-Hudson (Zoning Board of Appeals chair), and Patricia Lynn Oliva of White Plains (Planning Board member).
And that’s not all.
The WMPA also announced the names of the municipalities that won Planning Achievement Awards.
Recognized were projects that had been constructed and were in service, as well as municipal programs, plans, or legislation that’s been adopted and placed into practice.
In the past, communities have been recognized for downtown revitalization; comprehensive planning and plan implementation; housing; historic and architectural preservation; local resource conservation programs; flood and stormwater control planning and implementation, parks planning and implementation; innovative planning and zoning techniques; and community service programs.
The winner located within Halston Media’s coverage area was the Town of Lewisboro, for its comprehensive master plan.
The WMPA’s President’s Award went to Andrew V. Tung, of the White Plains-based DTS Provident Design Engineering Group.
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