STAR Recognizes Excellence in Small Town and Rural Planning

The STAR Division is honored to recognize its 2008 Small Town and Rural Planning award winners. The winners were selected from numerous nominees based on their quality, innovation, effective results, public participation, transferability, collaboration and long-term sustainability and use of smart growth principles. The nominees were judged by a four-person jury consisting of Dave Gattis, AICP (City of Benbrook, Texas), Paul Bednar, AICP (Paul Bednar Planning & Design, Ltd, Illinois), Leanne Harter, AICP (Story County, Iowa), and Jon Sevald (Sherburne County, Minnesota).

The 2008 award recipients include:

The Vernon Deines Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan is given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan. This year's recipient is the Town of Avon, Colorado, for the Avon Comprehensive Plan.

The John Keller Award for Outstanding Planning Initiative for a Small Town or Rural Area is given to the Town of Moreland, Georgia, for its Community Outreach efforts for the 2006-2026 Comprehensive Plan.

The James A. Segedy Award for an Outstanding Student Project was given to Ohio State University for its Community Plan for Eastern Harrison County, Mississippi, completed by CRP 852 students Joshua Anderson, Ian Beniston, Ma'ayan Citron, Nathan Leppo, Bridget Troy, Erica Wicks, and Rickie Yeager. 

The awards jury acknowledges the other outstanding nominations and is encouraged by the excellent work being done on our small town and rural communities.

Click here for a review of the 2007 award winners.