Two Maryland planning agencies to receive American Planning Association national awards for planning excellence
For many decades Maryland has supported and fostered sound community and regional planning. This long term commitment to sound planning principles and planning innovation in the “Old Line State” will be recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) in April at their National Conference in Seattle, WA. For the first time, APA will bestow national awards for planning excellence in the same year to two Maryland planning agencies. The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and the Montgomery County Planning Department will be the recipients of the awards announced today and to be presented in mid-April at the APA’s National Planning Conference in Seattle.
Maryland Department of Planning
MDP will receive the 2015 National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Agency for its years of advocacy, education and planning initiatives encouraging smart growth and sustainable communities and for improving quality of life for Maryland residents.
As the only legislatively created cabinet-level planning department in the country, MDP was founded in 1959 to advocate for and provide tools to help direct growth, preserve natural resources and strengthen communities throughout Maryland. The department routinely works with state and local decision-makers to identify obstacles to sustainable growth and capitalize on opportunities to implement innovative solutions. It partners with diverse stakeholder groups and brings technical assistance and programmatic resources to address a range of issues related to how Maryland grows. MDP also functions as Maryland’s State Data Center, providing statistics, forecasting and analysis across the state and serving as the state’s partner to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“MDP’s tireless efforts have made Maryland a leader in smart growth and planning,” said W. Shedrick Coleman, APA 2015 jury chair. “Through its cutting-edge analysis tools, MDP has helped Maryland to achieve its growth goals and preserve its diverse natural environment.”
Montgomery County Planning Department
The Montgomery County Planning Department will receive a 2015 Award for Planning Excellence for its outstanding effort in the development of Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. Pike & Rose is a 24-acre retail mixed use development project located near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike at White Flint. This is the first project built under the White Flint Sector Plan, which was adopted by Montgomery County in 2010.
The White Flint Sector Plan called for creation of mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly town center-style developments along Rockville Pike (MD 355). The plan also calls for infrastructure improvements including a bus rapid transit system on Rockville Pike, a pedestrian and bicycle friendly street grid and various open space amenities. For its innovative approach to retrofitting older suburban development, the White Flint Sector Plan was honored with an award in 2013 from the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission.
“This award confirms our philosophy of placemaking on even the most challenging sites,” says Evan Goldman, vice president of development for Federal Realty, which is also responsible for Bethesda Row. “We are proud that the initial phase of Pike & Rose has surpassed our expectations in creating the ‘there’ in North Bethesda with a vibrant, new center of activity.”
APA 2015 National Planning Excellence and Achievement Award recipients are listed at the APA awards page. APA’s national awards program, the highest honor in the planning profession, is a proud tradition established more than 50 years ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts and individuals for their leadership on planning issues.
Press release
Apr 02, 2015 @ 10:06:10