LYNN — Aaron Clausen, who has been Lynn’s principal planner for the last six years, is resigning and moving back to his native Oregon. He has accepted a job as planning division manager for the city of Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland.

“My leaving has nothing to do with the city of Lynn. I have a great opportunity to move closer to family and take on a new role leading planning-related work for a rapidly growing city,” said Clausen, who grew up in Pacific City, a coastal community about 100 miles west of Portland. 

Lauren Drago, the associate planning director, will step into the principal planner role on an interim basis, according to Mayor Jared C. Nicholson.

“Aaron has done a remarkable job in establishing a planning department that has achieved significant success in a relatively short period of time,” Nicholson said. “The city has benefitted greatly from his expertise, vision and passion for his job.”

When he was appointed by then-Mayor Thomas McGee in 2020, Clausen became the first full-time city planner since Kevin Geaney left in 1993. The Lynn Business Partnership was a driving force in the city re-establishing the position, which was funded for three years with almost $700,000 in funding from EDIC/Lynn, MassDevelopment, the Eastern Bank Foundation, Gerondelis Foundation, and the Barr Foundation.

Among the highlights of Clausen’s tenure are the development of Vision Lynn in 2023, the city’s first comprehensive plan, and the rewriting of the zoning code in 2025 to make development regulations consistent with the plan. 

“We were able to create a comprehensive plan and adopt an overhaul of the zoning code in a 4-year period,” Clausen said, “creating in relatively short order a clear vision, and the regulatory framework, for future development that meets the community’s needs.”

Clausen pointed to the South Harbor Improvement Plan, creation of an urban renewal authority and investments in public projects such as Harbor Park, Hanson Street reconstruction, and other key infrastructure projects as catalysts for the type of waterfront redevelopment the city has been pursuing since the Waterfront Master Plan was first released in 2007.

“We were able to lay out a strategy identifying specific actions the city can take to bring about transformation of the waterfront that has been envisioned by the community for quite some time,” he said, noting that the resurgence of the waterfront is being driven by private and public investment.

Clausen attended Bentley University, graduating with a degree in marketing. He earned a master’s in urban planning from the University of Michigan. Clausen worked in planning for the city of Lowell from 2007-13 and the city of Beverly from 2014-20, before taking the position in Lynn.

“Lynn is an amazing community with so much positive energy and a willingness to pitch in and do the work,” he said. “There was so much opportunity and a lot of great thinking going on, so it was a great time for me to come in and connect the good work being done and build plans that execute on the community’s vision.”

Clausen said he appreciated the support of McGee and Nicholson, the city council, city departments and other community partners. 

“It’s gratifying to know that the planning department is well established at this point, with positive working relationships in the city,” he said. “The next principal planner will be in a good position to continue strengthening these relationships and build on the work we’ve led over the past six years”

Clausen’s last day is August 21. The city will conduct a search for a permanent replacement, Nicholson said.