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May 24, 2018
OLYMPIA – Governor
Jay Inslee today announced winners of the 2018 Smart Communities Awards. Now in its 13th year, the program recognizes
achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects
that contribute to thriving communities, a prosperous economy, and sustainable
infrastructure in Washington State. This year’s honorees include the first
tribal project nominated for an award.
“Outstanding local collaboration is key to creating sustainable
communities with a shared vision for their future growth and
prosperity," said Gov. Inslee. “These
community projects demonstrate why Washington is such a special place to live,
work and play.”
Following are the 2018 Governor’s Smart Communities
Award winners, highlighted with comments from the judges.
Smart
Vision Award for comprehensive planning
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Town
of Twisp. Economic Revitalization Master Plan, developed in partnership with
community groups to identify barriers to business vitality, focused especially
on the downtown area. Judges commented that the plan identifies specific
actions town leaders can take to increase economic success while preserving and
enhancing the character and uniqueness of the community. Utilizing “Gallery
Openings” to provide open houses for the public to review and comment on the
proposed vision and approach went over very well with the community. The
techniques used to prioritize projects, and formalize the plan were innovative
and impressive for a smaller community. The town’s process and vision
development provides an excellent model for any other small town seeking
economic revitalization.
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City
of Ellensburg. Housing Element of the 2017 Ellensburg Comprehensive Plan is a model for
effecting meaningful change in a community. Using an innovative Heart &
Soul® process for community planning, the city reached unheard voices and
encouraged participation from residents who don’t normally participate. In addition, the assessment process findings
identified a need for a future affordable housing commission, and as a result,
Ellensburg became the first city in the State of Washington to pass a sales tax
increase for affordable housing and related services. Ellensburg’s model has
scalability and can be implemented in other cities.
Smart
Choices Award for implementation of a comprehensive plan
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City of Kent. “Meet Me on
Meeker” Meeker Street Streetscape Design and Construction study of the Meeker corridor resulted in a multimodal promenade concept
that is a tangible engineering standard for private development. The Meet Me on
Meeker streetscape standards provide urban design and engineering details
needed for construction and funding. The standards are the key to going from
concept to implementation for all projects transforming the community. This
place-making effort directs investment to the urban core of Kent, and
encourages efficient multimodal transportation by connecting regionally
significant trails and local destinations. This directly implements the city’s
comprehensive plan and creates a sense of “being somewhere.”
Smart
Projects Award for a project
implementing a comprehensive plan
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Skagit
County. Community Justice Center Brownfield Redevelopment clearly carries out
the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA). This project
demonstrates a strong understanding of the value of productive farmland and
encouraging reuse of underutilized properties rather than expansion into
undeveloped lands. With the support of partners, including the Washington State
Department of Ecology, Skagit County successfully completed the necessary
environmental cleanup and construction of a state-of-the art essential public facility to serve county citizens for decades to come.
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City of Renton. The new
downtown Sartori Elementary School is located in a designated Regional
Growth Center, where it will serve 650 students and meet projected growth over
the next 10 years. This project is a step in the right direction toward
achieving the city’s vision, so that the city center and downtown become “a
cohesive, identifiable urban center where people live, work, learn, play and
visit.” The Sartori project will serve
as a new prototype for school campuses to support high-density development,
eliminating the need for a larger project site. In addition, the vertical
design creates more open space available to students and the surrounding
community for recreational use.
Smart Partnership Award for a joint public project implementing
a comprehensive plan
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City
of Kennewick and partners. Vista Field Redevelopment Master
Plan 2017. Working in partnership with the Port of Kennewick and Benton County, Kennewick
sought to create a redevelopment plan for the recently decommissioned 103-acre
airport, located at the core of the city. It took over four years to complete the
plan due to the extremely robust public involvement process, which included
design charrettes, pattern language exercises and numerous open houses. The plan’s
vision to create “a vibrant, pedestrian-focused regional town center” will
utilize New Urbanism concepts and infill development, and clearly carries out
the goals and requirements of the GMA.
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City of Spokane and partners.
Developed in partnership with the Spokane Regional
Health District, Community Frameworks, East Spokane Business Association, and
other partners, the East
Sprague Targeted Investment Pilot Initiative is a targeted
investment initiative for housing, public infrastructure and safety, leading to
increased private investment and measureable long-term vitality. The collaborative initiative represents an
innovative new strategy for public and private investment, recognizing that
investment in the public right-of-way is not enough to influence quality of
life factors that encourage, create and support truly vibrant neighborhoods and
business districts. This partnership model is replicable in most communities,
and demonstrates effective prioritizing practices, high-quality design, and
sustainable principles.
Judges’ Merit Award highlighting a nomination judged
to be a model or shining example of the best work in a particular topic.
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Quinault Indian Nation. Taholah
Village Relocation Master Plan is unique, and clearly carries out the goals of
the GMA, as well as hazard management planning practices. The Taholah Village
planning effort was exceedingly thorough and well thought out. It was a heavy lift to plan for the
relocation of an entire village in a way that is culturally sensitive and focuses
on the effects of climate change. The
incorporation of chapters addressing resilience to disaster and sustainability
planning is in line with the Governor’s Resilient Washington State Subcabinet
goals, and demonstrates quality design and sustainability principles. Bringing
in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to provide outside expertise was
very clever and extraordinary because Taholah is a small, non-GMA planning
community. They clearly built it as an
impressive model for other communities to use.
Other notable submittals recognized by the judges are:
- Thurston County — Economic Development Strategic Plan
- City of Redmond — 162TEN Project
- City of University Place — Regional Growth Center Subarea Plan
- City of Renton — Civic Core Vision and Action Plan
- City of Newcastle — Downtown Strategic Plan
“The 2018 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners again
showcase some truly exciting efforts toward sustainable growth and resilience
that will strengthen communities for the future,” said Commerce Director
Bonlender.
Washington’s comprehensive Growth Management Act has been in place
for 28 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.
Contacts:
Penny Thomas,
Commerce Communications, (206) 256-6106
Twitter: @WAStateCommerce
Facebook: facebook.com/wastatecommerce
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