On any given day at the office, Jason Sartori M.C.P. ‘05 might review a development application, offer guidance for a placemaking event, evaluate the state of school infrastructure, or all of the above.
A day in the life as a planning director for Montgomery County, Md.—one of the most diverse, populous counties in the country—is never boring. In his role, Sartori tackles a variety of formidable tasks relating to issues such as affordable housing, zoning and transportation—but he wouldn't have it any other way, he said.
“To be in this role is just invigorating and it feels right,” Sartori said.
Before starting a career in community planning, Sartori did a six-year stint in IT consulting, but he didn’t feel like he was making an impact on the world like he wanted. He decided to enroll in the University of Maryland’s Master of Community Planning Program and pursue a career that not only helped him tap into his childhood dream of becoming an architect, but let him connect with communities in a social and physical way.
“It was the best decision I ever made from a career perspective,” he said.
Now, two decades later, Sartori is leading the charge to address Montgomery County’s most pressing challenges, from tackling a growing housing crisis to connecting transportation corridors to enhance engagement between neighborhoods. He has big plans to continue the county’s goals of placing inclusivity, engagement and community at the center through its progressive initiatives such as Thrive Montgomery 2050, the county’s new general plan for future land use and development that will address economic growth, environmental sustainability and equity in the county. Another priority is Montgomery Planning’s Community Planning Academy, an online training for residents from all walks of life launching in the fall to help them learn how to contribute to the county’s planning process and better advocate for their community’s interests.
Sartori credits his experience as associate director of UMD’s National Center of Smart Growth, which he took shortly after finishing his degree, for paving the way for understanding the different elements important for communities to thrive, such as access to jobs, education, food, healthcare and community amenities.
“[NCSG] helps people recognize that they're part of something bigger than just their smaller jurisdiction…,” he said. “They continue to do groundbreaking research and data analysis that has a real true impact.”
Below, Sartori talks about his favorite mode of transportation, a new skill he’s trying to learn and how he’d like to be remembered:
The quotes have been condensed and edited for clarity.
What’s the best era of your life so far?
I would say right now. While there have been great things at various stages, as a planner, I always like to think that the best is still yet to come. And, right now I'm closer to that than I ever have been.
My kids are adults now, and it's just great to see them starting to embark on their futures. In some ways it's kind of nice to look forward to being empty nesters.
And, you know, I love the job that I do. I love who it connects me with on a daily basis; with our staff here, but also people in the community.
What is your favorite mode of transportation?
Although I don't use it as often as I'd like, it is bicycling.
It's been something that I've always enjoyed, I just don't do it enough. While I'm confident in my abilities, I don't personally have that comfort level riding on certain roads yet. So, I look forward to continuing to build out our bicycle network so that it makes more things accessible to more people, but also for myself, using safe and convenient forms of bicycle travel.
What is a skill you are trying to learn right now?
I'm trying to get better at reflective listening. Through my personal life and my work life, it’s something I've recognized that I need to get better at.
It's really easy when you're the director of a department to feel like you need to solve every problem or just offer a solution, but oftentimes when an issue is brought to me, whether it's in my personal life or work life, it's not necessarily that someone is looking for a solution. They just need to express the emotion that they have at that moment and need someone to listen.
If you could build your own community, what would be the first public amenity you would choose for residents to enjoy?
We need a park or some sort of central gathering space to bring the community together, and then you build the housing, jobs, retail and commercial around that.
[It] would be open to all, and welcoming and inviting and make people want to be part of that community.
What would you like people to remember you for?
I hope that people remember me as being genuine, caring and wanting to do what's right.
Clearly, imperfect, you know–everyone is–but always trying to improve and to help people become all that they can be too. I want to empower people to be leaders in their work and in our community.