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Awards
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 20062009 CCAPA Awards - Call for Entries
Click here for award nomination form (PDF)2009 CCAPA Awards - Awards Luncheon
Please Join Us In Celebrating the Holiday Season and Recognizing Several Worthy Award Recipients!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Inn at Middletown
70 Main Street
Middletown, CT
Registration begins at 11:30
Lunch Served Noon to 1 pm
Award Presentation 12:45 pm to 2 pm
The buffet lunch will feature harvest soup, salad, salmon and beef entrees and dessert.
Cost :$25.00 at the door (cash or check payable to CCAPA)
PLEASE RSVP by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30th
Space is limited to 100 attendees
RSVP Via Email to:
Town of Ellington
(860) 870-3120
Free parking is available at two adjacent lots.
Metered on-street parking and valet parking are also available.
Every year, the Connecticut Chapter solicits nominations for notable planning projects in a variety of categories. Once again the nominations reflect the diverse aspects of planning efforts in Connecticut. The December 12th event consisted of a catered luncheon held on the location of the Physical Development award. Nearly 60 people gathered on the second floor of the recently constructed Liberty Square in Middletown at 575 Main Street to recognize the nine award recipients. Mayor Sebastian Giuliano appeared prior to the award ceremony to welcome attendees and remark about the importance of Middletown’s downtown revitalization.
Physical Development Award: Harding Development Group
This award is given to a publicly or privately funded project constructed in the last year that demonstrates the value of planning and compatible development. It has been a number of years that the Chapter has seen a nomination in this category.
This award was given in recognition of the Harding Development Group’s commitment to improving the North End Neighborhood. The former Brownfield site cast a blighted image on an already compromised neighborhood for more than 5 years. In partnership with the City of Middletown, Harding transformed the site into a viable and highly aesthetic destination and work place—the first building to be built along Main Street since the 1940s. The ground floor retail space is occupied by It’s Only Natural market and deli, the third floor is fully leased as Class A space and the second floor is presently being marketed.
Citizen Planning: Jessica Barker & Allison Fritz
Citizen involvement has long been a critical component of municipal planning and CCAPA has always sought to recognize this often overlooked contribution.
This year the recognized the efforts of two young women who out of concern for the lack of economic vitality of their downtown began examining ways to revitalize Pawcatuck. Their efforts spurred the resurrection of a neighborhood group last active in the 1970s. The group became a conduit for grants to explore the student’s ideas. As a result, the Pawcatuck Revitalization Strategies was completed and a series of actions have been implemented. Jason Vincent, Pawcatuck’s Town Planner at the time, participated in the presentation and noted that Jessica Barker has chosen to pursue a planning degree at UMASS.
Communications Award: UCONN’s NEMO Website for Low Impact Development
This award recognizes media coverage or other forms of outreach that broadens the understanding of planning or issues and objectives related to planning.
A few years ago, the Chapter recognized UCONN’s Non-point Education for Municipal Officials or NEMO for its contribution to educating technical professionals, commissions and the general public. This year the program was recognized for its development of an exceptional website that provides a comprehensive database for storm water and low-impact development systems in the state. It includes a clearinghouse for emerging technologies, a database of municipal regulations and a list of firms with experience in this area.Implementation Award-Town of Tolland
This award is given to a plan, ordinance, regulation or other planning mechanism that embodies clear and achievable actions through demonstrated results. The chapter created this award to draw attention to the importance of putting the planning process to work—not to plan for planning’s sake.
The Town of Tolland and its planning initiatives in particular have never let the dust settle. This year the Chapter recognizes the Planning Commission for its comprehensive treatment of low impact development through the incorporation of techniques in both its zoning & subdivision regulations and by developing an accompanying design manual that provides specifications and guidance to applicants. The Committee was impressed by the Commission’s commitment to following through on a strategy critical to the protection of water quality and considers the results of this effort as a model for other towns.Public Program: HOMEConnecticut
This award is given to a program of unusually high merit that addresses an issue of regional or state significance.
In a very short time, HOMEConnecticut has made significant and impressive inroads to providing workforce housing to all communities throughout the state. By building a coalition of public and private stakeholders, David Fink and his staff have passed a comprehensive incentive based law and developed an effective tool to encourage proactive municipal participation in solving the shortage of reasonably priced housing. Interest in the program has exploded with 27 municipalities now having applied for technical assistance grants to explore Incentive Housing Zones. This program will continue to grow in significance as more of Connecticut municipalities realize that openly and directly addressing the issue of affordable housing is the key to unlocking economic recovery.Community Development: Connecticut Main Street Center
This award is presented to a program, project or initiative that bolsters the social and economic welfare of a community.
The Connecticut Main Street Center’s mission is to help build vibrant, traditional main streets so they can once more become thriving hubs of social and economic activity. John Simone and his dedicated staff have infused energy and excitement into a program that trains volunteers and professionals provides workshops and technical assistance and tirelessly promotes Connecticut’s Main Streets.Public Service: Community Builders Institute
This award recognizes those acting in a public capacity that promote or apply sound planning principles or play a significant role in a planning effort for public benefit.
The Community Builder’s Institute which has been generously supported by Northeast Utilities since its inception was formed in collaboration with a number of planning and economic development organizations including CCAPA and CEDAS. The intent was to educate land use and real estate professionals, elected officials and volunteer commissioners about the intricate and sometimes competing connection between land use and economic development. Through a series of informative workshops, the Institute has captured a wide variety of interests and has developed an incredibly effective means of finding common ground. It has fostered an understanding of each other’s duties, goals and views while providing a mechanism for professional development.Distinguished Service Award: Horace Brown
Mark Pelligrini, the Chapter’s Immediate Past President, in presenting Horace with the Chapter’s Distinguished Service Award bestowed thanks, praise and admiration for his lifelong commitment to planning. He has been a member of the Connecticut Chapter for over 50 years and had an extensive career in state planning. He first took a position with the Connecticut Development Commission in 1956 and by the time he retired 34 years later had held 12 positions which reflected the evolution of planning at the highest levels. Among his notable accomplishments include conceiving, naming, and overseeing the process creating the state’s first Plan of Conservation and Development and leading the team that drafted Connecticut’s Historic District enabling legislation.CCAPA’s Award Committee consists of Fran Armentano, Marty Connor, Linda Farmer, Val Ferro and Bruce Hoben.
Over 45 attendees gathered at Brother’s Restaurant in the heart of Wallingford on November 30th for the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA) 2007 Awards ceremony. This event marked the first time in many years that award recipients were recognized at a separate event. Judging from the level of attendance and camaraderie, CCAPA’s Executive Committee plans to make this an annual affair. The luncheon also served as the organization’s first in a series of scheduled quarterly meeting recently established at the request of members.
Historically, the awards have been presented during a brief ceremony sandwiched between planning sessions at the annual southern New England Planning Conference. The November 30th event provided an appropriate venue for recipients to display their projects and speak briefly about their efforts.
Attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and casual conversation before the buffet lunch. Afterwards, CCAPA President Don Poland began the presentation with brief opening remarks. Linda Bush, Wallingford’s Town Planner, also welcomed the crowd and thoughtfully left a display and individual maps depicting some of the town’s notable destinations.
Valarie Ferro kicked-off the awards ceremony by presenting the 2007 Public Program Award to the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance and its founder, Dr. Michael Klemens. The Awards Committee recognized the importance of his mission to develop a multi-faceted strategy for tackling ecosystem loss. The Committee particularly noted his efforts in the Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project. In accepting the award, Dr. Klemens noted that there is much work left to be accomplished and his hope is for local agencies to take time out to plan for the future not just react to development applications. He also informed attendees that due to restructuring of its operations, the Wildlife Conservation Society is no longer supporting the MCA after June 2008 so he is actively seeking a suitable sponsor or not-for-profit partner Additional information can be found at: http://www.metropolitanconservationalliance.org.
Tolland Town Planner Linda Farmer presented Mary Ellen Kowaleski, Director of Community Development, and Rebecca Augur, Senior Community Development Planner, from the Capitol Region Council of Governments the 2007 Public Service Award for engaging the interests of the agricultural sector and developing model regulations to help not only help preserve land but also to sustain farming as a business. Mary Ellen noted that there were eleven participating municipalities and many of them are moving into implementing the recommendations in the final report, Regulating the Farm: Improving Agriculture’s Viability in the Capitol Region. She also recognized Rebecca’s efforts in reaching out to various factions and establishing new lines of communication. Rebecca shared some of her insights into the process of working with a group that has often been alienated by zoning regulations and, in the past, had no interest in dialogue. The July 2007 report can be downloaded along with other CRCOG documents from its website: http://www.crcog.org/publications/Comm/DevDocs/Final_Report.pdf.
The East Hampton Brownfields Committee is an ad hoc group of talented volunteers who have shared their expertise and committed countless hours to revitalizing the village center through the pursuit and implementation of several grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Marty Connor, Town Planner of Torrington, presented the 2007 Citizens Planning Award to this Committee in recognition of their devotion and dedication to improving the quality of life in the village center which has dozens of potentially contaminated properties. Dave Terry and Scott Bristol accepted the award on the Committee’s behalf and took the opportunity to summarize the work that has been accomplished thus far. Dave thanked current and previous members of the Committee, noting that the mix of real estate, business and marketing expertise back in 2003 has evolved to include more technical and project management skills. He said that the town is extremely fortunate to have residents with not only pertinent skills but the willingness to donate countless hours. Many of the Committee’s efforts can be viewed or downloaded through the town’s website at: http://www.easthamptonct.org using the link to the Village Center Brownfields Initiative.
In 2002, a local developer with a fervent belief in smart growth principles initiated a partnership with the Town of Redding to transform the abandoned and contaminated 55-acre Gilbert & Bennett Wire facility into a sustainable, transit-oriented mixed use development (http://georgetownland.com). The redevelopment initiative was unanimously approved within one year and has become the recipient of several awards and grants. The Georgetown Land Development Company was recognized by CCAPA as its 2007 Community Development Award recipient for embracing the public planning process and committing to sustainability and green development. In accepting the award, GLDC’s President Steve Soler referenced the evolving process needed to undertake a project as complex and significant as this redevelopment. He noted that the project was a true partnership with the town and invited Robert Dean, an architect and instrumental member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, to come forward. Soler presented the plaque to him and asked that he place it in town hall to signify the critical role the town played.
The presentation of two Special Chapter Awards capped off the program. The Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials or CAZEO was recognized for its enduring contributions to promoting, organizing and training zoning enforcement officials as well its contributions to planning in Connecticut. The Awards Committee noted that CAZEO offers thoughtful and timely workshops on a range of topics that are as relevant to planners as they are to its membership, which has grown from 20 members in 1979 to nearly 300. Laurie Whitten, CAZEO’s current President, recognized all the Executive Committee’s members in attendance, and also thanked a number of others who have made significant contributions to the growth and success of the organization. Visit CAZEO’s website http://www.cazeo.org for more information.
A Special Chapter Award was also presented to outgoing CCAPA President Mark Pellegrini for his patience, perseverance and organizational leadership. Mark played an integral role in facilitating CCAPA’s own strategic planning initiative and then as President, embarked on the successful implementation of several key goals. Don Poland thanked Mark for his contributions and his words of wisdom as he embarks on his first term as CCAPA’s President.
The 2007 Awards Committee includes: Fran Armentano, Linda Farmer, Bruce Hoben, Marty Connor and Valarie Ferro, who serves as Chairperson. These volunteers have served together for several years and are continuously seeking ways to improve the process. The CCAPA awards program consists of an open nomination process (the Nomination Form is placed on the chapter’s website) typically beginning in the late spring. There are seven categories for which nominations are solicited. Submissions are first reviewed independently by each member of the Committee and then each submission is jointly evaluated in terms of the selection criteria.
Once again a number of outstanding planning efforts have been recognized through our annual Chapter awards. As in previous years, the nominations that were received reflect diverse aspects of planning in Connecticut.
The Awards Committee, consisting of Fran Armentano, Marty Connor, Linda Farmer, Val Ferro and Bruce Hoben selected five nominations. The Awards were presented by Val, who served as the Committee's Chairperson, and Mark Pellegrini, CCAPA President, during the Southern New England Planning Conference on September 29th at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. National President Dave Siegel was also on hand to congratulate the recipients.
The City of Shelton was the recipient of the Public Service Award for its proactive role in engaging public interest in the planning process. Prior to adopting the Plan of Conservation and Development, a full color Executive Summary, including maps, goals and policies was distributed to all 15,000 households in the City. This level of dissemination to the general public encouraged informed decision making based on the intended land use goals prior to Plan adoption, and raised awareness of the benefits of planning.
The 2006 Implementation Award was presented to the City of Torrington. Without any assistance from consultants, the Architectural Review Committee prepared Design Review Guidelines to protect historic properties in the downtown area. With large scale redevelopment on the horizon, the Committee recognized the need to put its planning policies into action and thus drafted guidelines to communicate the key contributing elements of the historic character of the area and desired treatments to potential developers.
Since 2004, the Connecticut Land Use Leadership Alliance has trained hundreds of land use and zoning commissioners, municipal staff, elected officials and citizens in land use law, consensus building and community decision making. No training in land use law or planning process is required of our volunteer, appointed or elected decision makers. The LULA program provides effective and much needed training, offering participants the opportunity to improve their leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of the scope of their authority. The Chapter recognized LULA as the recipient of the 2006 Public Program Award.
The Hartford Courant is this year's recipient of the Chapter's 2006 Communication Award. Back in 2003, the Courant began a section within its editorial pages entitled PLACE-Commentary About Where We Live to raise the public's awareness of land use issues, growth implications and preservation hurdles. The two-page section appearing in every Sunday edition features a column by PLACE Editor Tom Condon as well as guest editorials from several of the 20-member board of contributors. PLACE has evolved into a statewide forum for planning discussions and has actually resulted in affecting the outcome of a number of notable projects.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Chapter member who has made sustained contributions to the planning profession. Only a handful of recipients have been recognized with this honor. This year, Bert Sacco, Chairman of TPA Design Group, was recognized for his five decades of commitment to creating livable and sustainable communities. As a Certified Planner, Professional Engineer and a Licensed Landscape Architect, Bert continues to advise communities and clients throughout the State and is tackling substantial urban revitalization projects. He also devotes his spare time to numerous community organizations.