Newton Finds Next Leader Of Planning And Development

NEWTON, MA — Mayor Marc Laredo has nominated the city's next Director of Planning and Development.

Catherine M. Feerick is set to be considered by the City Council in the coming weeks. If confirmed, she is expected to begin the role in early August, succeeding Interim Director Katie Whewell, who has led the department since earlier this year.

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Feerick currently serves as Foxborough's Director of Land Use and Economic Development, where she oversees a staff of 12 across the town's planning, conservation, economic development and building departments. During her tenure, she has helped lead Foxborough's planning efforts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Gillette Stadium scheduled to host multiple tournament matches next summer.

She also represents the town on the MBTA Advisory Board, the Southeastern Massachusetts Commuter Rail Task Force, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Before joining Foxborough, Feerick served as Economic Development Director for the City of Attleboro, where the mayor's office said she helped attract more than $220 million in transit-oriented, mixed-use development while leading downtown revitalization initiatives, expanding support for small businesses, and managing redevelopment and brownfield revitalization projects.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a Downtown Revitalization Specialist with the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington, D.C., and held economic development and finance positions with the Ohio Department of Development.

Feerick graduated from Loyola University before earning a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University.

Laredo said Feerick will work closely with Whewell following her arrival in Newton.

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