January 12, 2006

Former Dallas Councilwoman Receives Award

WASHINGTON, DC — A champion of land use planning and historic preservation, Veletta Forsythe Lill helped launch the first comprehensive planning effort in Dallas, Texas. For her unwavering commitment to urban planning and her support of planners and the planning process, Lill has been named recipient of the American Planning Association (APA) 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Official.

"During her eight years on the Dallas City Council, Lill effectively articulated the importance of land use and historic preservation policies and was instrumental in the development of ForwardDallas, the city's first comprehensive plan," said Carol Rhea, AICP, chair of the APA Awards Committee. "She played a crucial role in launching this effort during a time of political uncertainty. Lill also pushed for neighborhood conservation districts, updated Dallas historic preservation law, and helped keep alive the vision of a downtown arts district," she added.

Lill will be recognized with other 2006 National Planning Award recipients at a special luncheon ceremony April 25 during APA's National Planning Conference in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, a 30-minute video about the 2006 awardees will be shown at the luncheon. Accomplishments of the awardees will be highlighted in the March 2006 issue of Planning magazine and on the APA website.

Combining a sure grasp of the facts with a keen understanding of the bigger picture, the former Dallas councilwoman gained support and secured funding for many important planning-related projects. She brought consensus to difficult issues in city hall's demanding council chamber through extensive research, sensitive mediation, and equitable solutions.

Her successful effort to amend Dallas's decades-old landmark preservation law, together with an updated historic preservation incentive tax, provided the means to save some of Dallas's most significant historic structures. Lill's passion for preservation reached beyond policies and council meetings. One day might find her picketing the proposed demolition of an historic house while the next day she is negotiating to help save a neighborhood building, such as St. Ann's School in Uptown.

During her council tenure, Lill led an effort to limit the size of big box retail outlets and to require them to conform to stricter standards for design and landscaping. In the fall of 2004, Lill convened two public forums for developers and architects wherein she challenged them to use preservation and design as tools for revitalization.

Lill also advocated for preserving neighborhood character. She supported the development of conservation districts and collaborated on efforts to amend the Dallas code to address concerns about mansionization.

Unable to continue serving on the city council because of term limits, Lill remains active in the planning and preservation arenas. She continues to support the city's comprehensive planning efforts as an active member of the ForwardDallas advisory committee. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Greater Dallas Planning Council and has recently been elected to serve as the "public" member on the Board of the American Institute of Architects-Dallas Chapter.

The APA National Planning Awards are part of a proud tradition established more than 50 years ago, recognizing outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues.

Contact

Roberta Rewers, APA Public Affairs, 312-786-6395; rrewers@planning.org