MADDY POEHLEIN

Maddy Poehlein is a planner with Winterbrook Planning. She brings a dual focus on environmental studies and public health to her role. With her background in environmental studies, she possesses expertise in ecological systems, environmental challenges, and sustainable practices. Additionally, her grounding in environmental politics and public health equips her to navigate regulatory frameworks and policies influencing urban planning. Maddy’s specialties include planning through public health and equity lenses, GIS and spatial analysis, qualitative data analysis, and community engagement. Maddy’s background presents a well-rounded skill set that positions her to contribute to projects at the intersection of environmental considerations and land use planning systems in Oregon.

“I hope to work to inspire planners to prioritize health in planning work, and public health professionals to engage with how important the built environment is to health and well-being.”

Maddy completed her undergraduate education at Whitman College, majoring in Environmental Studies and Politics. She is currently enrolled in a dual Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program at Portland State University.

Her career milestones include an internship with Alaska Community Action on Toxics, where she developed an interest in environmental justice. Maddy’s work with the PSU Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative and the Multnomah County Health Department reflects her commitment to health equity and improving the built environment. As a graduate student, she has contributed to a project addressing encampments on state transportation rights-of-way and assisted in collecting qualitative data for an environmental health mapping tool to prioritize health and equity during brownfield redevelopment.  

When not in the office, Maddy enjoys biking, yoga, reading, movies, patronizing local SE Portland businesses, playing guitar and fiddle, going to concerts, and taking long walks around our beautiful city.

Representative Work:

Dayton Comprehensive Plan Housing Plan Update – As part of a project funded by the DLCD’s housing planning assistance grants, Maddy played a key role in conducting a residential buildable lands inventory (BLI) to identify land availability for future housing development, in accordance with OAR 660-008-0005(6). Maddy worked closely with the local planner and facilitated three project advisory committee meetings and three public engagement meetings. These sessions provided an opportunity to present project deliverables, educate residents about middle housing options, and collect valuable feedback on the community’s housing needs. Maddy also developed housing strategies tailored to Dayton’s unique context and authored a guidance document to assist the city in updating the housing chapter of its comprehensive plan.

Catlin Gabel Master Plan Amendment – Maddy assisted in developing the narrative and findings for the West Campus Master Plan Amendment. She also supported the development review process for the new Community Center for Athletics and Wellness (CCAW) building. Maddy ensured that the project aligned with CCC’s long-term vision while also adhering to Washington County’s Community Development Code. As part of the permitting process, she planned a neighborhood meeting to engage the surrounding community, a requirement under Washington County regulations.

PSU Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative (HRAC) — Maddy wrote a survey as a part of the HRAC and Transportation Research and Education Center’s (TREC) research to create a “Guide for Addressing Encampments on State Transportation Rights-of-Way.” Being at the intersection of homelessness and transportation safety, this project is extremely timely in both the fields of public health and transportation planning.