Resume for Lisa Nisenson
Friday, August 21, 2009 at 10:44PM SUMMARY STATEMENT
Lisa Nisenson has over 20 years experience in smart growth, with a unique combination of experience as citizen planner, federal policy analyst, researcher and writer. She is the author of the blog “Planning Edges.”
SMART GROWTH AND GREENOUSE GAS REDUCTION CONSULTANT
Sarasota County Office of Planning and Development Services
Contract series –February 2008- December 2011
Clean Technology and Economic Development –Aligned economic development and sustainability assets in Sarasota County to produce stronger outcomes related to diversifying the economy and environmental protection. Aggressively pursued funding, legislative, regulatory and other strategies to meet these objectives. Working with County and State partners, created strategies for green economic development: (1) identifying markets beyond early adopters, (2) determining Sarasota’s green business strengths, and (3) helping build basic business acumen through improved networking and small business visibility.
Multi-Objective Planning - Developed comprehensive plan language for multi-objective development and transportation planning to include land uses, regional and local mobility, water resource protection and economic development.
Electric Transportation – Participated in creating and growing a local neighborhood electric transportation “cluster” to integrate low speed electric vehicles into transportation, land use and economic development plans.
Redevelopment - Worked with interdisciplinary team of professionals to shape a legislative and policy program for redevelopment in Sarasota County. Responsible for drafting legislative proposals, comprehensive plan amendments, concurrency options and zoning code language to align zoning and planning language. Provide outreach to community and civic leaders on transportation and land use.
Transit Oriented Development – Teamed with Dr. David Brain of New College, Sarasota County and the Sarasota County Area Transit Authority to develop a public participation program on transit oriented development and redevelopment.
PRINCIPAL
Nisenson Consulting, Sarasota, Florida
2006- present
Town of Bluffton, South Carolina –Assisted in formulation of unique joint watershed and land use plan to control stormwater runoff and its impacts on the May River. Services included input on the watershed action plan, an outreach guide on stormwater volume control practices, templates for grant submissions for the action plan and articles.
United States Environmental Protection Agency – Development of national guidance on stormwater controls to meet new regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act, as well as model ordinance language for joint smart growth and stormwater programs. Draft rules integrating smart growth changes expected Fall of 2011.
Ventura County, California – Development of watershed plans to integrate new water and stormwater requirements with land use programs and General Plans.
Trust for Public Land and Smart Growth Leadership Institute – Aligned State level land development and water resource policies to support Source Water Protection in Ohio, Maine and New Hampshire.
State of California, Ocean Protection Council (2007) – Developed State level policies to support wider implementation for Low Impact Development.
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (2007)– Developed material for weathercasts, focusing on the intersection of the built and natural environments as it relates to common weather related events such as urban heat island and localized flooding.
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER AND POLICY ANALYST
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
1989-2006
Planned, developed and managed environmental and smart growth projects, including contract and grants management:
Stormwater
Developed a new program within EPA to define and integrate smart growth techniques into stormwater regulatory programs.
Authored manual on using smart growth techniques as stormwater best management practices.
Developed training and outreach materials for the Office of Water on smart growth and EPA’s programs for stormwater.
Provided technical assistance to several states and localities on regulatory language to integrate local codes and stormwater requirements.
Provided input to the U.S. Green Building Council on proposals for its LEED scorecards for existing buildings and neighborhood design.
Transit Oriented Development
Managed research project, with Reconnecting America, on evaluating the performance of transit oriented development.
Served on coordinating committee for program development for Railvolution, an annual conference on transit oriented development.
Conducted workshops on transit oriented development, focusing on the policy and implementation features of Arlington, Virginia’s transit program.
Neighborhood Form and Community Development
Managed and contributed to research on smart growth and emergency response solutions for street design with the Local Government Commission.
Contributed to “Choosing Our Community’s Future,” a cooperative project between EPA and Smart Growth America.
Outreach
Directed EPA’s participation as partner in the Smart Growth Network (1999-2003).
Coordinated EPA’s involvement in the annual Partners for Smart Growth conference, including program development, speechwriting, and other major aspects of conference planning (2000-2005).
Served on the Railvolution planning committee (2003-2005).
CITIZEN PLANNER
Transit Oriented Development
Served two terms on Arlington Virginia’s Transit Advisory Commission (2003-2005). Provided information and feedback to County staff and decision makers on investment, routes and operations for regional subway and bus systems (METRO).
Neighborhood Form and Community Development
Served as Board member for the Clarendon Alliance, a public private partnership for investment in the Clarendon area (2003-2005).
Served as civic association president of the Lyon Park Citizen’s Association (1997-1999). Provided extensive comments on behalf of the community for development proposals, county investment and comprehensive planning amendments.
Co-founded Citizens for Redeveloping Clarendon Sensibly to promote Arlington’s established land use plans for the Clarendon metro station area.
PUBLICATIONS
2011 – Planetizen “A Little More Complete – Making way for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.”
2011 – Stormwater, “Ahead of the Learning Curve”
2009 – Stormwater magazine, “Zoning Code Audits – from the Watershed’s Point of View.”
2008 – Urban Land Magazine, December/January 2008 issue, “Stormwater Regulations.”
2007 – Planetizen and Landscape Architecture magazine, December issue, “A Browner Shade of Green.”
2006 – “Zoning Practice,” Watershed Planning, American Planning Association
2006 – “Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices” EPA publication
2006 “Why 2006 Matters for Transit Oriented Development,” January issue of Getting Smart, ICMA publication
2005 – “Hidden Credits – Using Smart Growth Techniques to Manage Stormwater under Phase II,” October issue of Public Management magazine
2005 – “New Stormwater Laws - What Smart Growth Advocates Need to Know,” published in Planetizen
2003 – “Getting to Smart Growth, Volume II,” contributor, EPA publication.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
2011 – Sarasota County Sustainable Communities Workshop
2010 – Center for Watershed Protection webinar – Better Site Design
2009 - New Partners for Smart Growth conference, Albuquerque, N,M., Merging watershed and Land Development Codes and Plans
2008 – International Erosion and Sediment Control Conference – All day workshop on Low Impact Development and Smart Growth, Orlando, Florida
2007 – California Association of Stormwater Quality Administrators, Costa Mesa, California, workshop on impervious cover and land development ordinances.
2007 - New Partners for Smart Growth conference, Los Angeles, California, workshop on barriers to smart growth and infill
2006 - National Stormwater Coordinators Meeting, Burlington, Vermont
RECENT AWARDS
2007 – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Partner of the Office of Water Award.
EDUCATION
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Masters in Education, 1988
Meredith College, Raleigh, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 1984
CONTACT
Email – lisa@nisenson.net
Phone – 941-822-0338
Mobile – 202-744-6854