Department of City Planning Names New Leadership Team for Queens Office

For Immediate Release
September 13, 2024

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli - [email protected] (212) 720-3471

NEW YORK - Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today announced the appointment of Lin Zeng and Kathi Ko to respectively serve as Director and Deputy Director of the agency's Queens Office. Their appointments further strengthen a team that is already advancing an ambitious work program including neighborhood plans for Long Island City and Jamaica that would deliver thousands of new homes and jobs, an annual pipeline of over 150 land use applications, and community and stakeholder engagement for major citywide initiatives like City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.

"Lin Zeng and Kathi Ko have the right mix of initiative, innovation, passion, and planning knowhow to lead the Queens Office during an exceptionally busy time in the office and across the agency," said Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick. "With years of experience at city government and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers, I am confident that they will drive forward our work to address the borough's challenges and expand housing and economic opportunity for its residents."

"I am honored to lead DCP's Queens Office during such a pivotal time for the borough," said DCP Queens Office Director Lin Zeng. "Queens is a remarkably dynamic and diverse community, and I am committed to working closely with residents, community partners, stakeholders, and my talented team to help plan a brighter future for all who call Queens home."

"Having spent the past decade working with Queens communities on planning projects, I am thrilled to step into the role of Deputy Director at DCP's Queens Office," said DCP Queens Office Deputy Director Kathi Ko. "I am deeply committed to advancing initiatives that address our housing and economic needs and help build vibrant and resilient neighborhoods. I look forward to collaborating with Lin Zeng and our dedicated team to address the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead for Queens."

Lin Zeng began her planning career with the City of New York in 2010 at the Office of the Manhattan Borough President and later held managerial roles at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), where she led the Brooklyn Planning Office from 2015 to 2021, overseeing affordable housing developments across the borough. Since joining the School Construction Authority (SCA) in 2022, she has significantly enhanced interagency coordination, including with DCP on Queens neighborhood plans. Leading a team of 20 planners as Director of DCP's Queens Office, Zeng will oversee neighborhood planning projects and land use applications for the borough's 2.6 million residents.

Kathi Ko joined the Queens Office of the Department of City Planning in 2014 after a career in the non-profit sector focused on transportation equity policy and community organizing. Over the course of her decade at DCP, Ko has played several key roles, including Borough Planner, Borough Certification Manager, and Team Leader. A Manhattan native raised in Queens, Ko brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for her home borough into her daily work, blending technical expertise with a strong commitment to community engagement and equity.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City's 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

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