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.
Kate Burch, AICP
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.
Addy Smith-Reiman, AICP
Planner
Trained as a Landscape Architect and Regional Planner, Addy integrates research, design, civic engagement and long-term stewardship planning. Her experience includes forming a non-profit to transform an abandoned 1860’s opera house into a vibrant cultural center in northern Vermont; linking transit hubs to historic sites with pedestrian and bicycling corridors in downtown Boston; managing trail and infrastructure projects along the three rivers in Pittsburgh, PA; and former Executive Director of the Portland Society for Architecture, a non-profit organization that promotes innovation and vision in design and planning.
Danielle King
Business Operations Manager
Danielle brings over 20 years of office management, finance and operations experience from both the for profit and nonprofit sectors. Before joining the team at North Star, she was the Operations, Finance, and HR Manager for a Portland nonprofit. Danielle is the point person for finance, human resources, and other functions that keep the business of planning running. She also continues to handle the office management for her husband’s small business, King Cove Carpentry.