The Town of Erie is pleased to welcome Sarah Nurmela as the new Planning & Development Director. Sarah’s first day with the Town is Monday, March 7.
Sarah was one of four finalists the Town interviewed from a very competitive field of local and national applicants vying for this position. She is coming to the Town from the City and County of Denver where she has worked as Planning and Implementation Manager since 2019. Before that, Sarah worked for the City of Westminster, first as a Principal Planner and then as Downtown Real Estate and Development Manager. Her work in Denver and elsewhere includes extensive experience not just in urban and community planning, urban design, and real estate development, but also in supervising and managing large teams and a large budget. She also has expertise and experience in applying diversity, equity, and inclusion principles to her work as well as a stellar track record on internal collaboration and communication.
Some of her experience and expertise comes from managing the team that pulled together Phase 1 of Downtown Westminster, a 20-block mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment project. This will prove valuable furthering Erie’s Town Center development. Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and her Master’s in Urban Planning with a focus in Affordable Housing and Urban Design from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
“I am excited to work in a community that values equity, inclusivity, and strategic, high-quality growth,” Sarah explained of her interest in the position. “I am looking forward to working with the staff, residents, and the Board of Trustees to fulfill the Town’s vision of a holistic, vital community.”