About Us

Vitruvian Planning

Our Story

With an extensive background in urban development, and the recognition of an emerging need for health integration in the world of urban design, Chris Danley founded Vitruvian Planning in January of 2011. Fueled by a passion for wellbeing, and a commitment to establishing healthier communities across the U.S., Danley and Vitruvian set out to convince communities of such a value and the need to address the lack of incorporating health as a vital element in design.

By creating and implementing such strategies as the Activity Connection Plans, designed to increase overall physical activity within individual communities, co-developing the Looking Glass Academy, an innovative assembly of professionals to learn the techniques in evaluating active transportation needs from both the community development and design fields, and becoming the first writer of Health Impact Assessments in Idaho and North Carolina, Vitruvian has made a name for itself as an industry leader in the sector of health community planning.

Year after year, Vitruvian Planning continues to formulate innovative ideas, provide impactful trainings, and develop plans and assessments to address the need for health integration, displaying a total commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of American communities.

OUR APPROACH

Bridging Health and Mobility as Leaders in Public Health and Community Planning Integration

It is due to Public Health that City Planning was born. Vitruvian Planning is a firm dedicated to seeing the two professions reunite to lift the citizens of our country and communities out of poor health and into healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives through an improved built environment that promotes physical activity, social interaction and emotional contentment.

We peer through the lens of public health in every project we lead and strive to demonstrate to others how valuable this approach can be. Total health is not limited to physical health and active transportation. It is not just about walking or biking. Our approach to planning, assessment, and training is to holistically consider the dimensions of health and elements of planning to marry together the most effective recommendations, findings and strategies to deliver us to a healthier state.

Meet Our Team

Chris Danley, Principal

Chris Danley is the founder of Vitruvian Planning and has worked in the planning profession since 2005. Having spent his youth in Southern California, he joined the US Navy and spent five years in Naval Aviation traveling the world and experiencing numerous cultures and environments.

Upon his honorable discharge, Chris went back to Southern California to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from Chapman University in Orange, California before moving to Spokane, Washington to enroll at Eastern Washington University and earning a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

After graduating, Chris worked in the public and private sectors including being the first Comprehensive Transportation Planner at the Ada County Highway District. Chris is a recognized national expert in Health Impact Assessments, is co-creator of a two-day walk audit training academy known as the Looking Glass Academy, and has conducted planning and assessment projects throughout Idaho, North Carolina, Utah and several other states. He is also a certified Safe Routes to School and League of American Bicyclist instructor, current Board President of the National Physical Activity Society, former Boise Planning & Zoning Commissioner, a former personal trainer, coach, an avid runner and cyclist and dad to two young girls.

American Planning Association
Recent President of the National Physical Activity Society
Recipient of the 2012 and 2015 NC APA Plan of the Year Award
League Certified Instructor with League of American Bicyclists
National Safe Routes to School Certified Instructor
Past City of Boise Planning and Zoning Commission Member

Don Kostelec, Principal

Don Kostelec is a 17-year professional in transportation planning, health analysis and comprehensive planning. He is applying and researching Health Impact Assessments and integrated health/planning efforts through various projects throughout the United States. Don’s work extends from Alaska to Florida and California to New York.

His specialty areas include: The Americans with Disabilities Act, Transportation Policy & Finance, Health Impact Assessment, Active Transportation Design, Complete Streets, and Governance. Don is a past member of the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance Board of Directors and a past member of the Board of Directors of Bike Walk NC. He has also served on the TRB Committee on Transportation Demand Management and the Eat Smart/Move More Leadership Team in North Carolina.

Don is known as a provocative speaker who helps communities better engage the design profession for more equitable and safer street design that prioritizes the safety of people over the movement of cars. He is a frequent contributor to national podcasts and stories on safe street design and walkability. Don has a Master of Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Journalism from Western Carolina University.

American Planning Association
Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Transportation Demand Management
League Certified Instructor with League of American Bicyclists

Our Services

01

PLANNING

We offer communities planning expertise in the realm of active transportation.

02

ASSESSMENT

As industry leader in Health Impact Assessments, we have led several HIA’s on multiple topics.

03

TRAINING

Specialist in the training realm with our Health Impact Assessment Training, Health and Planning Integration Training and our highly regarded Looking Glass Academy.

Ready to learn more?