Excellence in Small Town and Rural Planning – The STaR Planning Awards

Excellence in Small Town and Rural Planning – The STaR Planning Awards

by Dale Richard Powers, AICP

Vice Chair of Communications – Small Town and Rural Planning Division – APA

The Small Town and Rural (STAR) Planning Division invites nominations for its Planning Awards to recognize outstanding individuals and projects for their contribution to planning excellence in small town and rural communities. The program is open to any individual, organization, or consulting firm involved in planning for small town and rural areas. Members of the Awards Committee (and their organizations) are not eligible for an award. Nominated plans, projects, programs and studies must have been completed within two years of the nomination submittal date. For Comprehensive Plans and Special Project Plans prepared by consultants, the award recipient shall be the client for whom the planning activity was conducted.

The categories are:

Carol Thomas Award For An Outstanding Small Town and Rural Planner
Given to an individual in public service, academia or the private sector that has made an outstanding contribution to planning in their community.

Vernon Deines Memorial Award For An Outstanding Comprehensive Plan or Special Project Plan
Given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan that addressed the development of a neighborhood, community, county or region.

John Keller Award For An Outstanding Planning Initiative
Given to an outstanding initiative or program in public education, workshops, ordinances, or enforcement that promotes planning in small towns and rural areas.

James Segedy Award For An Outstanding Student Project
Given to an outstanding project by a graduate or undergraduate class or individual that addresses a planning issue facing small town or rural areas.

Award recipients will receive a plaque and a one-year membership in the STaR Division. The awards will be given out during the STaR Annual Business Meeting in Atlanta, GA in conjunction with the APA National Conference. Additional copies of the award may be ordered for support staff and consultants at a nominal cost.

Awards Committee

The STaR Executive Committee has appointed an Awards Committee responsible for evaluating award nominees and making recommendations to the Executive Committee. All awards will be made at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee. The Committee may grant more than one award in each category.

The Awards Committee will use the following criteria in its consideration of award nominees:

  • Innovation
  • Quality
  • Measurable results and implementation
  • Role of Elected Officials
  • Transferability
  • Collaboration/Public Involvement
  • Long-Term Sustainability and/or use of Smart Growth Principles

Nomination Procedures

Anyone may place a nomination for any of the awards categories before the Awards Committee. Nominations must be submitted according to the following rules.  

A complete nomination package must be submitted no later than Thursday, November 21, 2013. We accept e-mail, Dropbox, FTP site or a mailed USB drive or CD-ROM.

A complete nomination package includes the following:

  • Award Nomination Entry Form;
  • A Summary Statement indicating why the nominee merits the award;
  • The plan or project report being nominated, or a resume/biography of the individual being nominated (Carol Thomas Award) ;
  • Letters in support of the nomination;
  • Any supporting reports, plans, articles, newsletters or other supporting documentation  (CD-ROM is an acceptable format);
  • A check for the nomination fee made payable to APA STAR Division, $25 if nomination is made by Division member, $100 if nomination is made by a non-member.

Also, submit a copy of a prepared news release with forwarding address.

Nomination packets must be submitted to:

STaR Awards Committee
c/o Shaijala J. Roos, AICP
sroos12@hotmail.com

For further information, contact Shailaja J. Roos, AICP at 817-368-2901 or sroos12@hotmail.com.