Nicki van Vonno
When I was a kid, I used to walk atop a flood wall along the banks of the Ohio River. To reach the top you had to climb up a skinny iron ladder. A giant could see over the flood wall. A little girl couldn’t. She had to climb a skinny ladder and stand on top of the ten-foot concrete wall in order to see beyond her life; to see how nature and the built environment together make a place special and unique. I imagined a future of public spaces alive with nature and art, designed for people. My practice continues with van Vonno Consulting, LLC.
Capabilities / Expertise
Nicki’s career is very reflective of her balanced approach to her life, and her career. She has been a planner for over 35 years working in Martin County, Florida, home of the four-story height limit and urban boundary lawsuits written up in the land use law books. With a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and a master’s degree in City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Nicki advanced from an entry level Planner II to lead a team of highly qualified professionals in the Martin County Growth Management Department for over 20 years. Under Nicki’s leadership, the Department received awards from various organizations.
Nicki is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She was on the planning committee that established the APA County Planning Division. She has spoken widely on planning topics at various training events and provided expert testimony during administrative hearings on land use decisions.
In 2020, Ms. van Vonno established van Vonno Consulting, LLC to provide planning services to the South Florida and the Treasure Coast. She is currently providing services to the City of Port St. Lucie.
Areas of Expertise
- Comprehensive Planning
- Community Development
- Land Development Regulations
- Impact Fees
- Housing
- Arts and Culture
- Management
Services Offered
- Planning Studies
- Project Management/Management Studies
- Mentoring
- Public Speaking
- Meeting Facilitation
