By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayetteville planning director Jahnee Prince has taken a new position with Cooper Carry, the architecture and municipal planning firm that developed plans for Fayetteville's McElwaney property earlier this year.

Prince will stay on at the city until Aug. 12 and begin her new duties as a project manager for the firm Aug. 30.

“I'm excited,” Prince said this week. “I'm very happy and a little bit nervous.”

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Prince has worked with the city three years. Before that, she worked as a senior planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission, and as a planner for the cities of St. Charles, Mo., and Mainland, Fla.

She holds a masters degree in city and regional planning from Ohio State University.

Cooper Carry has offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and has recently expanded its architectural services to include city planning consultations.

“This is just a tremendous loss for us,” said city manager Mike Bryant. Prince is “a very dedicated and hard-working professional. She has made a decision to try her wings in private enterprise, and I can understand that,” he added.

“They're getting a good professional, and she's welcome back anytime,” he added.