Nolan Nicaise
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Nolan is an urban and environmental planner professional whose work is driven by his passions for public health, equity, and the environment. He focused on continued learning, whether it's new software, a new approach to resolving a community challenge, or a new language.
Nolan began his career in the environmental sciences, studying biology as a Berry Scholar at the University of Dayton, where he supported Dr. Ryan McEwan's lab in its research related to forest history and the effects of bush honeysuckle leaf litter on stream quality. He worked as a stream biologist for the Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky and for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). Later, in Chicago, he consulted for BP US Pipelines & Logistics to manage environmental permitting for pipeline repair projects, interacting extensively with US Army Corps of Engineers offices in several regions, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, state environmental protection agencies, state departments of natural resources, and local soil and water conservation districts, and maintaining certifications in Erosion and Sediment Controls (CPESC and CISEC). While living in Denver, Nolan grew particularly interested in water diplomacy and urban sprawl and decided to pursue a masters degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning with a graduate certicate in "Water: Systems, Science & Society" from Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts. Following the degree program, he took a staff role with the Tufts Institute of the Environment where he managed the "Water: Systems, Science & Society" program and helped coordinate graduate research in the Water Diplomacy Ph.D. program. |
As an urban planner, Nolan has worked for Planning and Development Services of Kenton County (KY) and for ZoneCo, LLC. At ZoneCo, Nolan managed long-term projects for local jurisdictions across the country, leading community-clients through once-in-a-generation overhauls of zoning codes and subdivision regulations. He assessed current codes for outdated and harmful regulations, advised clients on recommended improvements, and drafted and formatted mulit-hundred-page regulatory documents that promoted alignment with comprehensive plans, walkability, senior friendliness, housing diversity, environmental quality, user experience, and legal defensibility. He often coaches local councils on adoption processes, assisted by his first-hand experience as a commissioner for the City of Covington (KY) in 2023.
Nolan operates as an independent contractor and supports Urban Canopy Works and its communities with mapping, document formatting, plan drafting, and community engagement. He spends his free time learning French and Spanish, reading, working out, swimming in open water, and practicing poi (spinning arts). |
