FAIRFIELD — The Town of Fairfield has promoted Emmeline Harrigan to town Plan and Zoning director replacing the retiring Jim Wendt effective April 1, First Selectman Bill Gerber announced Friday, March 14.
The Town Plan and Zoning Commission (TPZ) appointed Harrigan to serve as director at their meeting on March 11. The appointment was subsequently approved by Gerber.
Harrigan, who has more than 25 years of planning experience, has served as assistant planning director for the past eight years.
While in Fairfield, she has worked on the Town’s Transit-Oriented Development Plan, the Post Road Circle Safety Plan, and the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan as well as coordinating the revisions to the Plan of Conservation and Development.
As a Floodplain Administrator for two Connecticut coastal communities, she has ensured continued compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program, increased resiliency through participation in the Community Rating System and has applied and processed grant applications with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She is the current president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, as well as a past president of the CT Association of Flood Managers. She earned a master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA and is a certified planner and floodplain manager.
“Emmeline Harrigan is an excellent choice to lead the Town Plan and Zoning Department as its new director,” Gerber said. “She has worked closely with Jim Wendt for years, and is extremely qualified. Her professional stature and experience will be invaluable to the Town as we grow into the future.”
Wendt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Southern Connecticut State University and has an undergraduate degree in geography/urban studies from the University of Connecticut.
He replaced Joseph Devonshuk in 2017 after Devnonshuk retired after serving the town for 33 years.
