After a yearlong search, the city of Santa Monica has tapped an East Coast official as its new planning director.

Eileen Fogarty, director of planning and zoning for the city of Alexandria, Va., since 2000, will become Santa Monica’s top planning official in September. She replaces Suzanne Frick, who took a similar post in Long Beach.

Prior to her service in Alexandria, Fogarty was director of planning and community development in the city of Santa Cruz.

As Santa Monica’s new planning director, Fogarty will confront several key issues and projects, including the Civic Center development, renovation of the aging Santa Monica Place mall and a shortage of affordable housing.