Matthew Orbach

Matthew Orbach is an experienced urban planning professional currently serving as Principal Planner for the City of Watsonville since August 2021. Prior roles include Associate Planner for the City of Capitola and Community Development Director for the City of San Juan Bautista, where responsibilities spanned development application processing, economic and residential development coordination, and community outreach efforts. With a Master of City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Matthew has also engaged in various roles focusing on historic preservation, environmental analysis, public outreach, and strategic planning. Additionally, Matthew has experience in the hospitality industry and has been involved in nonprofit organizational efforts dedicated to responsible water resource use.