2024 Ones to Watch - Innovators in CRE:
Rachel Scelfo, Farrell Fritz

Rachel Scelfo is a partner in Farrell Fritz’ land use, zoning, municipal litigation group. She rejoined the firm in September, having previously worked at the firm for eleven years. 

Prior to rejoining the firm, Scelfo was most recently a member of the Town of Babylon team – serving as the town’s commissioner of planning and development from January 2019 through August of 2024. In the role of planning commissioner, Scelfo supervised the work of the planning and building departments and managed all of the larger development projects taking place in the town during that timeframe, with the help of a talented team of professionals there.

Innovative Solution: 

I think I bring a unique perspective to the Long Island market. I have been in the Planning Commissioner’s seat of a busy town, and I am a private land use attorney. I can see both sides of an issue and come up with creative solutions to meet in the middle, knowing firsthand what each side is trying to achieve. I can look at a plan for development or redevelopment, and anticipate the town’s comments, which makes for better submissions from the start, leading to less work for the town when conducting its review, and saving an applicant or property owner time and money on revisions.

Innovative Outlook:

Creative reuse and flexibility in zoning. What is no longer being utilized in this market, needs to be able to morph into something else --- or we will continue to see more vacancies in our downtowns, shopping centers and office buildings. Vacant retail being reused for medical offices was common in Babylon. The review process focused in on the particular unit that was changing over and its immediate area, rather than the overall shopping center, to allow for a faster, more tailored review process. I see several towns thinking outside of the box, in similar ways. I’m excited to see the next creative idea, and what else is on the horizon.

“Rachel (along with her team) helped Babylon move significant projects along during her tenure at the Town. Now that she has returned to Farrell Fritz, those experiences matched with her land use and zoning practice will allow her to expand reach even more; helping more towns and other governing entities to accelerate growth.” - Lee Peretz, Farrell Fritz.