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Date: 8/9/2022
NORTHAMPTON – On July 29, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra appointed Carolyn Misch as the permanent director of planning and sustainability. The role was open after former Director Wayne Feiden retired after serving Northampton for 33 years.
According to the mayor’s announcement, the city recognized that the position of planning director was important for their future and decided to embark on a national search for qualified candidates. Sciarra convened an advisory screening team composed of city councilors, city department heads, Easthampton City Planner Jeff Bagg, and community members who had experience working in planning, sustainability and disability issues.
After going through the interview process, the advisory team unanimously selected Misch as the permanent director. Prior to this appointment, Misch was tapped as the interim director once Feiden retired.
“Carolyn was the best and most qualified candidate by far,” said Sciarra in a statement. “She has the vision, the experience, and the temperament to guide Northampton as it implements its progressive planning agenda and as we work to meet our climate change goals. I look forward to working with her to continue the important work of the Office of Planning and Sustainability.”
Misch brings nearly 30 years of experience in the planning field, working at the state, regional and local levels to implement community goals, improve quality of life, and address the impacts of climate change.
She has spent the last 22 years working for the city as the senior planner and permits manager, and then as the assistant director of planning and sustainability since 2020. Before that, she worked as a planner in Raleigh and Cary, NC, and the state of Colorado.
She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Rochester in New York, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado Denver, with a concentration in economic development. Misch is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and was named professional planner of the year in 2014 by the American Planning Association’s Massachusetts chapter.
“I am thrilled to have been selected as the next director for planning and sustainability and I look forward to continuing the work in which I was involved in my previous role, toward addressing the city’s climate targets,” Misch told Reminder Publishing. “The Sustainable Northampton Plan, adopted after extensive community input by the Planning Board and endorsed by the Northampton Energy and Sustainability Commission and City Council has aggressive goals identified to be met by 2030 and 2050.”
Additionally, working with the mayor and others on addressing the city’s significant housing shortage for people at all income levels but especially those earners between 100 and 175 percent of the area median income is critical to maintaining a diverse community and supporting and growing our business economy,” she continued. “So, this will be an important element of my work going forward.”
Sciarra will now submit her appointment to the City Council for confirmation, which will be taken up at the next council meeting on Aug. 18 for a required committee referral. Misch will serve as the interim director until the council officially confirms her appointment.