Awards of Excellence and Merit

Eligible planning projects are those completed within the last two years. An awards application should include an electronic copy of the planning document, a summary of the project, and responses to the awards judging criteria. Each member of the Awards Committee must receive an award application by February 10, 2012. Incomplete applications or those not received by each juror by the deadline will not be considered. Addresses for each of this year’s Jurors are listed below. The Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit will be presented to the recipients at the APA CPD/NACP annual business meeting in Los Angeles at the APA National Conference, Sunday, April 15, 2012. The jurors make the distinction between Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit based on scoring and other factors.

Projects must fall under one of the following categories:

Planning Project Award: To a specific physical planning project of unusually high merit conducted by a county that is in the process of being constructed or has been constructed within the last two years. The project should demonstrate “on-the ground” results that are supported by documentable physical or social change.

Comprehensive Plan Award

Large Jurisdiction: For a comprehensive plan of unusually high merit completed and adopted by a county within the last two years for, by or within a jurisdiction with the most recent Census population of 50,000 or more.

Small Jurisdiction: For a comprehensive plan of unusually high merit completed and adopted by a county within the last two years, for, by or within a jurisdiction with the most recent Census population of less than 50,000.

Best Practices Award: For a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan. Nominations may include such things as ordinances, regulations, legislation, adopted policy and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines, transferable development rights program, land acquisition efforts, public/private partnerships, applications of technology, handbooks, or efforts to foster greater participation in community planning.

Grassroots Initiative Award: For an initiative that illustrates how a community utilized the planning process to address a need that extends beyond the traditional scope of planning. Emphasis is placed on the success of planning in new or different settings. Nominated projects should expand public understanding of the planning process. This could include such efforts as community policing or drug prevention, neighborhood outreach initiatives, programs designed for special populations, rural development, public art or cultural efforts, community festivals, environmental or conservation initiatives, summer recreational initiatives for children, or focused tourism ventures.

Small Area/Special Area Planning Award: This award will go to a small area/special area plan, program, design, or related effort that demonstrates innovative planning principles and measures that create sustainable communities that have lasting value.

Nominations will be evaluated for the award category in which they are submitted. However, the Awards Committee may upon majority vote move a nomination to a different category, if appropriate. Only one Award of Excellence and one Award of Merit may be granted per category each year. If the Awards Committee finds that none of the nominations in a particular category meets the desirable standards, they may grant no award in that category for that year.

A Complete Award Package must include the Following Documents:

1. The planning document or project submitted on CD or provided by a webpage link.
2. A brief description of the project, including the setting, time frame, significance to the planning field, innovations in theory, methodology and/or practice and other unique aspects to the application.
3. A brief discussion demonstrating how the project meets the following criteria:
1. Innovation – Introduction of an original concept or a refinement of an existing technique or procedure.
2. Transferability – Potential applicability in other areas of the state or to other planning projects.
3. Quality – Excellence of analysis, writing, graphics and character of presentation.
4. Implementation – Effectiveness of the work – i.e. proposals have been carried out or show promise of being carried out in the near future.
5. Comprehensiveness – Planning principles have been observed, especially in considering a project’s effects on other public objectives and the surrounding environment.
4. Responses to items 2 and 3 should total no more than four pages.
5. A 2-3 sentence project summary to be used for the award handout at the annual business meeting.
6. At least four graphics or images (jpg format) that illustrate the planning area or project that are being submitted.
7. Name, address, daytime telephone, email, and FAX numbers of the person(s) to contact regarding the application: project author(s), and project client.
8. Application fee: $25.00 fee for members of the APA CPD and/or NACP. $35.00 fee for non-members, which includes membership in NACP, payable to NACP and mailed to Tim Brown at the address below. Please notate the project name on the check.
9. A complete award package must be received by each juror either by regular mail or electronic mail no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2012 (no exceptions). Please direct any questions about the awards program to Tim Brown, Chair, Awards Committee at (334) 615-3416 or by email to downtown54@hotmail.com.

A complete award package must be received by each juror either by regular mail or electronic mail no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2012 (no exceptions). Please direct any questions about the awards program to Tim Brown, Chair, Awards Committee at (334) 615-3416 or by email to downtown54@hotmail.com.

County Planning Awards Jurors

Timothy W. Brown, AICP
Staff Planner
City of Dothan
Planning & Development
126 N. St. Andrews Street
Room 305
Dothan, AL 36302
Downtown54@hotmail.com

Dennis A. Sandquist, AICP
Director of Planning &
Development
McHenry County
2200 N. Seminary Road
Woodstock, IL 60098
DASandquist@co.mchenry.il.us

Royce Maniko, AICP
Monroe County Administrator / Chief Financial Officer
Monroe County
125 E. Second Street
Monroe, MI 48161
Royce_maniko@monroemi.org

Mike Kayes
Planning Officials
Development Officer
New York Upstate
Chapter, APA
120 Jamie Lane
Broadalbin, NY 12025
Mjkayes504@aol.com

The Award of Excellence was presented to Charlotte – Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in the Small Area/Special Area Planning category for their Area Plan Implementation Program. The Area Plan Implementation Program is a system created to inventory, analyze, track, and implement capital projects as well as other recommendations originating from adopted Area Plans. It began from the need to follow-through on the community’s planning vision that was developed during a lengthy and in-depth planning process. The program established annual bond funding for area plan capital project implementation, enhanced information sharing amongst public service providers, and has resulted in the construction of a number of projects.

The Awards of Merit were presented to Henrico County, Virginia in the Grass Roots Initiative category for their Homeowner’s Enhancement Guide and to Riley County, Kansas in the Best Practices category for their Vision 2025 – A Comprehensive Plan for Riley County, Kansas. The Homeowner’s Enhancement Guide is intended as a means of maintaining the stability and desirability of mature neighborhoods. The Homeowner’s Enhancement Guide is a how-to handbook intended for homeowners and prospective purchasers of older homes, which may be in need of modernization and enhancement. The Guide is a tool for homeowners and prospective purchasers of mature homes that assist in the processes of adding character, modernizing, and improving livability through improvements at various ranges of cost. The Vision 2025 – A Comprehensive Plan for Riley County, Kansas provides the guidance to ensure the continued viability of the agricultural sector within the county while allowing compatible residential growth in appropriate areas. Developed over a 20-month time span by a representative steering committee with the guidance of facilitators and staff, the plan includes unique features such as a statement of property rights principles, an exclusive agricultural district, a uniquely tailored Land Evaluation Site Assessment System and an innovative Surrounding Agricultural Land Easement to protect agricultural operators.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Awards of Excellence and Merit

Eligible planning projects are those completed within the last two years. An awards application should include an electronic copy of the planning document, a summary of the project, and responses to the awards judging criteria. Each member of the Awards Committee must receive an award application by February 25, 2011. Incomplete applications or those not received by each juror by the deadline will not be considered. Addresses for each of this year’s Jurors are listed below. The Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit will be presented to the recipients at the APA CPD/NACP annual business meeting in Boston at the APA National Conference, Sunday, April 10, 2011. The jurors make the distinction between Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit based on scoring and other factors.

Projects must fall under one of the following categories:

• Planning Project Award: To a specific planning project conducted by a county that is in the process of being constructed or has been constructed within the last two years.
• Best Practices Award: For a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan. Nominations may include such things as regulations and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines, transferable development rights program, land acquisition efforts, public/private partnerships, applications of technology, handbooks, or efforts to foster greater participation in community planning.
• Grassroots Initiative Award: For an initiative that illustrates how a community utilized the planning process to address a need that extends beyond the traditional scope of planning. Emphasis is placed on the success of planning in new or different settings. Nominated projects should expand public understanding of the planning process. This could include such efforts as community policing or drug prevention, neighborhood outreach initiatives, programs designed for special populations, rural development, public art or cultural efforts, community festivals, environmental or conservation initiatives, summer recreational initiatives for children, or focused tourism ventures.
• Small Area/Special Area Planning Award: This award will go to a small area/special area plan, program, design, or related effort that demonstrates innovative planning principles and measures that create sustainable communities that have lasting value.

Nominations will be evaluated for the award category in which they are submitted. However, the Awards Committee may upon majority vote move a nomination to a different category, if appropriate. Only one Award of Excellence and one Award of Merit may be granted per category each year. If the Awards Committee finds that none of the nominations in a particular category meets the desirable standards, they may grant no award in that category for that year.

A Complete Award Package must include the Following Documents:

1. The planning document or project submitted on CD or provided by a webpage link.
2. A brief description of the project, including the setting, time frame, significance to the planning field, innovations in theory, methodology and/or practice and other unique aspects to the application.
3. A brief discussion demonstrating how the project meets the following criteria:
   • Innovation – Introduction of an original concept or a refinement of an existing technique or procedure.
   • Transferability – Potential applicability in other areas of the state or to other planning projects.
   • Quality – Excellence of analysis, writing, graphics and character of presentation.
   • Implementation – Effectiveness of the work – i.e. proposals have been carried out or show promise of being carried out in the near future.
   • Comprehensiveness – Planning principles have been observed, especially in considering a project’s effects on other public objectives and the surrounding environment.
   • Responses to items 2 and 3 should total no more than four pages.
4. A 2-3 sentence project summary to be used for the award handout at the annual business meeting.
5. At least four graphics or images (jpg format) that illustrate the planning area or project that is being submitted.
6. Name, address, daytime telephone, email, and FAX numbers of the person(s) to contact regarding the application: project author(s), and project client.
7. Application fee: Free for members of the APA CPD and/or NACP. Non-members must submit either $50 for an award application or $35 for membership in NACP, payable to NACP and mailed to Tim Brown at the address below. Please notate the project name on the check.

A complete award package must be received by each juror either by regular mail or electronic mail no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 25, 2011 (no exceptions). Please direct any questions about the awards program to Tim Brown, Chair, Awards Committee at (334) 615-3416 or by email to twbrown@dothan.org.

County Planning Awards Jurors

Download the 2011 Project Awards Program announcement via Scribd.com

Pictures from Awards Ceremony

Gwinnett County

Gwinnett County, located in the greater Atlanta area, was recognized for a very ambitious and detailed 2030 Unified Plan that incorporates excellent data and implementation steps to address a variety of issues that this high-growth area currently faces. The awards committee was particularly impressed with the scope of the project, as well as the outreach efforts including the website. Nancy Lovingood, manager of long-range planning for the county, accepted the award along with project consultant Holiday Collins Storck from PB Placemaking, and delivered a presentation that provided additional details about the planning process and current status of the plan implementation.

Click here to see the Gwinnet County Presentation.

Gaston County

Gaston County, located in the growing Charlotte metro area, was recognized for a Unified Development Ordinance that was established through an inclusive process involving a wide variety of stakeholders. The awards committee was impressed with the county’s effort to move ahead, while retaining history and character through creative implementation of planning principles and public participation. David Williams, the Gaston County Planning Director, accepted the award and said the expectations for the project were high. “We were charged to “raise the bar” by enhancing development standards to promote quality development, livability, consistency with other existing policies while protecting our tax base.”

Click here to see the Gaston County Presentation.

The Mountain Landscapes Initiative

The Mountain Landscapes Initiative, a project managed by the Southwestern Commission and consulting firm The Lawrence Group, developed a detailed reference guide for local governments, officials, citizens, and developers to improve development practices in six rural counties located in western North Carolina. The project was recognized for its extensive public engagement process and transferability to other rural areas. Judy Francis, County Planning Division Chair-Elect, accepted the award on behalf of the Southwestern Commission and the Lawrence Group, and commented that “creative land use planning is not just a function of the metropolis. Some of the best work being done throughout the country is in rural areas that have never undertaken comprehensive planning before, but are now concerned about the impacts of inappropriate development on dearly loved landscapes.”

Click here to see the Mountain Landscapes Initiative Presentation.