City of Riverside Names Stephen Patchan Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Department
Published: 9/12/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 12, 2024
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Names Stephen Patchan Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Department
Award-winning urban planner brings 20 years of experience to Riverside
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Stephen Patchan, an award-winning urban planner with nearly 20 years of nationally recognized planning and economic development experience leading local and regional initiatives in both the private and public sector, has been named a Deputy Director of the City of Riverside’s Community and Economic Development Department (CEDD). He starts Friday (9/13).
Patchan joins the City from the private firm Mark Thomas, where he oversaw community and transportation planning projects throughout California. As a member of the City’s leadership team, he will support the Economic Development focus of CEDD, shepherding initiatives related to economic development, the successor agency of the former redevelopment agency, and real property services.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our efforts and build capacity with the addition of Stephen Patchan,” Director of Community and Economic Development Jennifer Lilley said. “His diverse experience will be an asset to the department and organization.”
Patchan will work closely with fellow Deputy Director Chris Christopoulos, who oversees the initiatives in the Community Development side of the Department -- building, planning, and code enforcement. Patchan’s past accomplishments include the City of Los Banos Downtown Master Plan, which outlined transportation and utility improvements to maximize access to commercial and retail locations, and securing tens of millions of dollars in grant funding.
Patchan was previously program manager at the Southern California Association of Governments, (SCAG) where he developed Go Human, an award-winning community engagement program assisting jurisdictions, including the City of Riverside, in securing grant funding and project development.
Patchan also worked at the Tulare County Resource Management Agency; Environmental Planning and Design LLC in Pittsburgh, PA; the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning; and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to align planning and infrastructure improvements to maximize economic and community wide investment.
Patchan has experience partnering with local businesses, community-based organizations, and various public agency staff to leverage resources to develop and implement a range of projects, from corridor specific master plans to incentive-based zoning code amendments that expedite building development and community investment.
“I’m excited to join the Community and Economic Development team,” Patchan said. “I look forward to supporting the City’s leadership to implement innovative projects, such as the Economic Development Strategic Plan, which will retain, attract and bolster targeted business sectors like Green Technology and Sustainability, Arts and Tourism, Healthcare, Aerospace and General Technology. I look forward to helping the City capitalize on future opportunities and ensuring it maintains an exceptional quality of life.”
Patchan is originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area, where he received his Bachelor (Creative Writing/French) and Master’s (Regional Planning and Geography) degrees from Pennsylvania Western University.
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