Sabrina D. Charney Hull, AICP
Town of New Castle
Sabrina's journey from the barnyards of Wisconsin to negotiating big deals in Albany is proof that her passion for protecting the environment knows no bounds! Her work on the historic New York City Memorandum of Agreement, designed to safeguard the city's drinking water, sparked a decades-long collaboration with local governments and kicked off her relationship with the 17勛圖厙 Land Use Law Center. Partnering with John Nolon, she helped launch one of the first LULA (Land Use Leadership Alliance) training programs, guiding community leaders in balancing economic development with watershed protection.
Armed with technical planning skills and a knack for collaboration, Sabrina spent ten years working with municipalities as part of her role in watershed planning at the Westchester County Department of Planning. She quickly realized that the real decision-makers were the local boards, committees, and governments, so she shifted her focus to building consensus and transforming land use as the Town Planner for Somers. In her eight years there, she became a master at fostering relationships with landowners and developers to bring smart, sustainable land use practices to life.
Sabrina then took her talents to New Castle, where she brought a fresh, welcoming approach to development. As the Towns Stormwater Coordinator, she uses her mediation and team-building skills to keep New Castle compliant with state environmental standards. Shes also been the lead planner on the $15 million Chappaqua Hamlet revitalization project, and is actively working on plans to build a bridge over the Saw Mill River Parkway.
Sabrinas crowning achievement? Authoring New Castles award-winning Comprehensive Plan Update, "A Framework for the Future," which has gained regional recognition for its best practices in land use planning. Despite a bump in the road with form-based zoning in the Chappaqua Hamlet, she bounced back by rallying support for the groundbreaking Net-Zero Carbon Legislation, paving the way for greener, more energy-efficient construction, and increasing affordable housing.
Shes now guiding New Castle through important decisions about future land use around the Chappaqua Train Station, balancing todays needs (housing, environmental protection, transportation) with the communitys vision for the future. For Sabrina, its all about ensuring everyones voice is heardand using her unique skills to shape the towns land use decisions.
When shes not busy shaping communities, Sabrina teaches the next generation of leaders about climate change, water quality, and planning as an adjunct professor at Purchase University. She lives in Newtown, Connecticut with her husband Gordon, daughter Sophie and son Spencer, making the most of her busy, fulfilling life.