2013 Governor’s Smart Communities Award Winners Announced
Nine cities and three counties receive awards for smart growth planning
OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee today announced winners of the 2013 Smart Communities Awards. Now in its eighth year, the program recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to quality of life in Washington state.
“These projects help create and sustain a thriving economic climate and strengthen our ability to lead in the global economy,” said Gov. Inslee. “Washington is a great state in which to live and do business thanks to these examples of leadership and innovation.”
2013 Smart Communities Award winners are:
- Jefferson County for its Mystery Bay Management and South Port Townsend Management Bay plans, which engaged a diverse group of stakeholders to develop plans to protect commercial shellfish resources while also providing for recreation and other commercial uses
- City of Everett for its Evergreen Way Revitalization plan
- City of Renton for the Sunset Area Planned Action to leverage public investment to catalyze private property development and create opportunities for market-rate and affordable housing, plus retail investment
- Town of Wilkeson’s Rural Town Center Corridor Plan
- King County’s White River Forest project that permanently preserves 43,000 acres of the White River Forest through the purchase of development rights and a conservation easement. A perfect use of the transfer of development rights (TDR) program.
- City of Kennewick’s Bridge-to-Bridge/River-to-Rail subarea plan
- City of Normandy Park for its Manhattan Village subarea plan and planned action ordinance that includes receipt of TDRs from King County.
- Clark County’s Discovery Clean Water Alliance is a partnership with the cities of Ridgefield and Battle Ground that pools the various agencies resources, funds, and talents to serve the needs of their citizens for many years to come. The partners can meet future service demands without paying for repetitive facilities in service area.
- City of Ridgefield’s Discovery Clean Water Alliance
- City of Battle Ground’s Discovery Clean Water Alliance
The judges also selected two projects for merit awards:
- City of Redmond – digital planning and development suite for innovative public accessibility
- City of Sultan – 2011 Comprehensive Plan for Integrated Planning.
Dan McConnon, Washington State Department of Commerce Deputy Director, will present the Governor’s Smart Communities awards to cities June 27 at the Association of Washington Cities annual conference in Kennewick. Brian Bonlender, Commerce Director, will present awards to counties at the Washington State Association of Counties annual meeting in Vancouver November 20.
“The 2013 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners reflect the wide variety of efforts and collaborations that make up growth management planning in Washington,” said Director Bonlender. “Communities can move forward economically when good, collaborative work like this is being accomplished.”
Washington’s comprehensive Growth Management Act has been in place for 23 years. Using it as a framework, local communities plan and implement their vision for the future. For more information on the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards or the Growth Management Act, visit www.commerce.wa.gov/growth.
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2013 Governor’s Smart Communities Award Winners
Smart Vision Award – Comprehensive Planning
- Jefferson County Mystery Bay Management Plan and South Port Townsend Bay Management
- City of Everett Evergreen Way Revitalization Plan
- City of Renton Sunset Area Planned Action
- Town of Wilkeson Rural Town Center Corridor Plan
Smart Choices Award – Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
- King County White River Forest
- City of Kennewick Bridge-to-Bridge/River-to-Rail (BB/BB) Subarea Plan
- City of Normandy Park Manhattan Village Subarea Plan + EIS Planned Action Ordinance, and Transfer of Development Rights Program
Smart Partnerships Award – Development Project to Implement a Plan
- City of Battle Ground Discovery Clean Water Alliance
- City of Ridgefield Discovery Clean Water Alliance
- Clark County Discovery Clean Water Alliance
Judges’ Merit Award
- City of Redmond Digital Planning and Development Suite
- City of Sultan 2011 Comprehensive Plan
Other 2013 Nominees
City of Burien Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan
City of Shoreline Comprehensive Plan
City of Lake Stevens Economic Development Strategy
City of Bremerton SKIA Subarea Plan for ECO-Industrial Area