All materials copyright Behan Planning and Design
Our team of professionals is committed to providing a unique, creative, and personalized approach towards community planning and design projects. Our mission is to make better places to live, work, and play for current and future generations. We do this by working collaboratively with our clients to create high quality, innovative, practical, effective, and environmentally-balanced places.
John J. Behan, AICP, is a principal with Behan Planning and Design. After practicing for twelve years, first as a city planner, then as a partner in a larger planning and design firm, Mr. Behan began his independent consulting planning practice in 1995 and formed Behan Planning Associates in 1998. Mr. Behan's work, which he considers creative collaborations with his clients and their constituencies, has been recognized with several national planning and conservation awards. His professional practice emphasizes turning knowledge into action and includes public involvement as integral to successful community planning initiatives. Mr. Behan's experience includes environmental reviews under NEPA, SEQR, and MEPA, comprehensive planning at a municipal, multi-community, and regional scale, waterfront revitalization, greenway and open space, and resource conservation planning, grant writing, and economic development planning projects.
Cynthia Behan provides design services for residential, commercial, institutional, open space and community planning projects. Her experience includes site planning and design for residential, commercial and institutional clients, as well as community parks and trail system planning and design. Cynthia's practice integrates community planning with design of public spaces. She brings her background in biology and ecology and understanding of plant materials into her practice at the site, neighborhood, and community scale. Cynthia particularly enjoys collaborations with other professionals and finding creative design solutions for both public and private clients.
Mike Welti is a certified community planner who has over twelve years of professional experience in both the public and private sectors with expertise in comprehensive and master planning, integrated land use and transportation planning, zoning and subdivision regulations, design guidelines, and SEQR compliance. His areas of specialization include: public participation strategies and meeting facilitation, agricultural preservation and open space conservation, growth management, urban design, transportation planning, recreation and trail planning, and grantsmanship. Mr. Welti has lead dynamic and successful planning projects for communities and public agencies throughout New York State.
Michael Allen began his independent planning consulting practice in 2002 with the formation of Bailliere Consulting where he was Principal until joining Behan Planning and Design. His experience includes land use planning SEQR and GEIS reviews, developing zoning codes, build out analysis and design standards. As an architect, Mr. Allen has worked for noted international firms including Skidmore Owings Merrill, P.C. in London; Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, A/E, P.C. in Albany, N.Y.; as well as preservation architects Badger & Associates in Manchester, VT. Before moving to New York State, Mr. Allen served on the Planning Commission for the Town of Dorset, VT, and has a strong personal interest in community revitalization and land use planning projects.
Rick Lederer-Barnes maintains and manages all Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and analysis products for the firm and specializes in cartographic design, data creation and analysis, and build-out analysis. He provides professional planning services in the areas of farmland and open space preservation, zoning, SEQR preparation and review, environmental review and analysis, fiscal analysis, and community visioning. In addition, Mr. Lederer-Barnes assists with web design, business development and marketing. Prior to joining Behan Planning and Design, he was a project manager and environmental scientist in Rhode Island where he authored numerous environmental site assessments and guided several hazardous waste investigation and remediation projects. He continues to coordinate subcontracted site assessments for municipal land acquisitions and development.
Nicole Witham coordinates all aspects of internal office work, including office administration, client billing,
contract coordination, project development, purchasing, and scheduling. She also assists with report
writing and review.
Rebecca Nolan provides design services for community planning, public park, streetscape, urban design and redevelopment projects as well as public facilitation and construction administration. Her current focus is seeing revitalization and hamlet design through the final stages of construction documentation and the specification process. Before moving to New York, she worked for Design Workshop, Inc of Colorado and Kent Frost Associates of Southeastern Connecticut. Her knowledge of LEED requirements and interest in integrated design practices help her see projects through the design process from visioning to construction.
Kara Smith has experience in planting/garden design and construction oversight, bicycle and pedestrian facility design, as well as community revitalization projects. She has overseen the planning, promoting and facilitation of community meetings, as well as the organization of volunteers to produce a project within the project’s timeframe and budget. Her knowledge base also includes marketing and writing, cost estimations, material specifications, and proficiency in numerous computer programs including AutoCAD, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and SketchUp.
Kathleen Stanko is responsible for project creation and acquisition as well as client retention. Ms. Stanko has over 25 years of experience working in the Architectural/Engineering (A/E) field. She is actively involved in the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), American Marketing Association (AMA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Saratoga County Chamber, the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (RTSC), and the Franklin Community Center.
