Lansdale Leaves Sustainable Long Island

After 10 years at Sustainable Long Island, Sarah Lansdale has stepped down to direct planning for Suffolk County,

Lansdale announced the move last week, calling her time at the Bethpage-based non-profit “nothing short of absolutely thrilling and extremely gratifying,” in the organization’s recent newsletter. She became executive director of Sustainable Long Island in 2004.

“I have had the pleasure to partake in and oversee numerous milestones for the organization ranging from projects on brownfield redevelopment to programs dealing with food access,” Lansdale said. “The results we have achieved and the relationships I have built over my ten years with the organization, provides me with great confidence to move forward into my new position as Suffolk County Planning Director."

As planning director, she will oversee the analysis of existing and proposed land use,  help evaluate environmental conditions, track demographic changes, prepare population projections and will recommend ways to implement plans for Suffolk County development, among other responsibilities.

She has been the Town of Huntington representative on the Suffolk County Planning Commission since 2005.The County Planning Commission is comprised of 15 members who are nominated by the County Executive and are confirmed by the County Legislature. County law also requires that the Commission members collectively reflect a variety of backgrounds including in law, business, real estate, labor, environmental action and transportation.

The Board of Directors have not yet chosen a new executive director for Sustainable Long Island.

In addition to her work at Sustainable Long Island, Lansdale's community outreach experience includes two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. She holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University and a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Studies and Agricultural Economics.

“Living on Long Island the majority of my life, I knew from day one at Sustainable Long Island that the work we perform is critical to the long-term development of dozens of communities Island-wide,” she said. “There is no doubt in my mind the organization will continue to prosper as a catalyst and facilitator for sustainable development for years to come.”