jhelferty@thezoneco.com | 718.500.3154 (d) 

Education: B.S. Architecture & Graphic Design; M. Architecture, Northeastern University, Boston

Background: ZoneCo Director of Urban Design Joseph Helferty is passionate about the intersection of zoning, planning, and urban design. He is an urban planning and design professional with over a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors. His work includes urban design, graphic, design, urban planning, zoning, and coastal resiliency. In addition to managing projects, Joseph is ZoneCo’s Director of Urban Design and Coastal Resiliency. 

Prior to joining ZoneCo, Joseph worked for eight years in the New York City Department of City Planning. He most recently served as Senior Planning Team Leader for the Staten Island Borough Office where he provided leadership on a wide range of projects, establishing workplan priorities, and providing guidance on agency SOPs, developed, maintained, and informed staff on planning policy for projects throughout Staten Island, including proposed rezoning to facilitate affordable housing, interpretation of zoning and discretionary findings, and future borough-wide planning objectives such as transit-oriented development initiatives and identifying key North Shore neighborhoods for future growth. In that role, Joseph also managed the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Study through ULURP, including coordination with internal DCP divisions to complete the Land Use Application and Environmental Impact Statement, and collaborated with various NYC agencies to develop a $250 million Capital Strategy. 

Prior to his service to New York City, Joseph worked as a graphic designer in New York City. Joseph is a native of and lives on Staten Island.   

Click here for more information on the ZoneCo Regulatory Design Studio.