Nilsa Zacarias

Nilsa Zacarias, AICP, is Senior Practice Leader of Planning at ChenMoore and a nationally and internationally recognized urban planner and Fulbright Scholar with over 30 years of experience leading comprehensive planning, land use, urban design, and community engagement initiatives. She provides strategic leadership for the firm’s planning practice, serving as Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager for comprehensive plans, land development regulations, visioning studies, redevelopment strategies, corridor and neighborhood plans, and development review services throughout Florida. Ms. Zacarias has extensive expertise in Florida’s growth management framework and has successfully guided municipalities through comprehensive plan updates, Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) amendments, land development code revisions, annexation studies, and long-range planning initiatives. Her notable experience includes serving as the planning department for the City of Westlake since its incorporation, as well as leading ongoing planning services for the Village of Tequesta, City of Lake Worth Beach, City of Dania Beach, Town of Mangonia Park, and numerous other local governments across South Florida.

Ms. Zacarias is recognized for her expertise in visioning, public participation, urban design, redevelopment planning, GIS-based planning analysis, and implementation strategies that transform community input into actionable planning solutions. She has led award-winning planning efforts, including the Village of Tequesta Parks Master Plan, comprehensive plan updates, CRA master plans, design guidelines, neighborhood plans, and regional transit-oriented development analyses supporting the Palm Beach TPA’s 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan. A frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences, she has presented on topics including comprehensive planning, complete streets, urban design, public participation, land use compatibility, post-pandemic urban development, and climate resilience for organizations such as the American Planning Association (APA), the Palm Beach County Planning Congress, and universities in the United States, Mexico, and South America.

Ms. Zacarias is a certified member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and has dedicated her career to advancing planning excellence through innovative community engagement, sustainable development, and collaborative leadership. Her ability to integrate technical planning expertise with creative visioning and consensus building has made her a trusted advisor to municipalities throughout Florida, helping communities create resilient, vibrant, and economically sustainable places for future generations.