Smart Growth Award Recipients Demonstrate Value of Planning

Good planning was at the core of success for each of five recipients of this year's Environmental Protection Agency National Awards for Smart Growth.

Award recipients were selected based on their promotion of smart growth principles as well as the replicability of their plans and community involvement. The awards were presented at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on November 17, 2004.

AICP President-elect Sue Schwartz, FAICP, Greensboro, North Carolina, Chief of Neighborhood Planning, was present together with Mayor Keith Holliday to accept their city's award. Schwartz was instrumental in creating the AICP Community Assistance Program that brings together planners across the U.S. to offer pro bono planning support to communities. Greensboro Southside Neighborhood was the first recipient to receive multi-year support under the AICP program.

"These awards underscore the relationship between smart growth and planning," said Bill Klein, AICP, APA's director of research. "Congratulations to all of the APA members who contributed to these plans, tools and programs. EPA's recognition of these recipients demonstrates the value APA members bring to their work and communities."

The award categories include Built Projects, Overall Excellence, Policies and Regulations, Community Outreach and Education, and Small Communities:

Built Projects
Southside Neighborhood (Greensboro, North Carolina)
New development and revitalization of existing structures transformed the blighted Southside Neighborhood, just one-and-a-half blocks from Greensboro's historic main street, into a thriving, attractive district.

Overall Excellence
Town of Davidson (North Carolina)
Superior implementation of their planning ordinance and land plan is setting a high standard for creating healthy and vibrant neighborhoods in a historic setting. The town is revitalizing existing buildings, and has issued design guidelines that preserve its small-town atmosphere.

Policies and Regulations
Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (Santa Cruz, California)
The Accessory Dwelling Unit Program is increasing and diversifying housing choices by making it easier to build accessory units. Separate residences are created by converting all or part of a garage or by building new structures on a homeowner's property.

Community Outreach and Education
Sacramento Region Blueprint: Transportation/Land Use Study (California)
The Sacramento Region Blueprint: Transportation/Land Use Study changed how the Sacramento region approaches growth. It brought together more than 5,000 citizens, 30 agencies and private businesses to help plan how and where the region will grow.

Small Communities
San Juan Pueblo Master Plan (New Mexico)
The Master Land Use Plan honors Native American heritage while encouraging economic growth and providing needed housing. The first of its kind for a Native American community, the plan and process by which it was developed are a valuable model for tribes and communities around the country.