North Star Planning was founded in 2017 to help communities create and sustain the places that make New England a special place to live, work, and play.
The North Star team has extensive experience in master planning, ordinance development and zoning, community revitalization, land use analysis, natural resources planning, and development review. We work with municipalities, state and county governments, nonprofits, and private developers across the region, from small rural communities to large urban areas.
We excel at meeting the needs of municipalities, public stakeholders, and private companies through consensus-based solutions and an inclusive planning process. We are experts in multimedia communication and using a mix of online and in-person programming to solicit diverse engagement. Our work is centered on ensuring our clients can implement the plans we write through accessible products, specific goals, and measurable results.
Ben Smith, AICP
Founder and Principal
Ben has more than 15 years of experience working with communities, developers, and state and local government. He has managed dozens of comprehensive, downtown, and open space planning projects while always maintaining a focus on developing measurable and specific implementation strategies. With experience as Planning Director in one of the fastest-growing communities in Maine, he is an expert in land use analysis, ordinance and zoning development, and facilitating complex development review projects. Ben is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners through the American Planning Association.
Jamel Torres
Senior Planner
Jamel has over ten years of experience in municipal and regional planning. He has coordinated comprehensive plan updates, focusing on inclusive public participation and clear implementation strategies. He also has extensive experience in municipal land use ordinance development and managing the review of multifaceted development projects.
Kate Burch
Senior Planner
Kate is proficient in data analysis, geographic information systems, and project management. With a background in fine art and graphic design, Kate leads visual communications for North Star projects, including infographics, maps, community engagement activities, document design, videos, and websites. Before joining North Star, Kate was a municipal planner, and she has also worked in planning and policy positions in sustainability and historic preservation.
Charles Tetelman
Planner
Charles brings to NorthStar five years of dedicated experience in city and regional planning and policy development. His professional background spans various planning initiatives, such as comprehensive planning, development review, corridor management plans, and downtown master plans. With a proficiency in GIS mapping and spatial analyses, Charles seamlessly integrates geospatial technology into everyday planning strategies, contributing to a well-informed and thoughtful approach to planning and community development.
Samantha (Sam) Peikes
Planner, Data Lead
Sam has a background in open space planning and landscape design. At North Star, Sam is the primary data analyst, collecting and assessing statistics, zoning and land use conditions, and geographic information for a multitude of projects. She believes that good planning is centered around access and mobility and how people get from place to place in their community. Sam previously worked at a regional planning commission in Vermont.