The Governor's Smart Communities Awards                         

Outstanding efforts of local communities and their partners is occuring throughout Washington State to create quality communities and this page highlights those successes.

The Governor's Smart Communities Awards - For Outstanding Achievement in Creating Livable and Vibrant Communities 2009 Winners.    

• City of Hoquiam - Hoquiam Comprehensive Land Use Plan: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning
• City of Mountlake Terrace - Town Center Plan: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning
• City of Walla Walla - Walla Walla Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2007 Review and Update: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning
• City of Everett - Everett Core Area Residential Development Standards/Design Guidelines: Smart Choice Award for Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
• City of Puyallup - Puyallup Civic Center Project: A Community Vision Realized: Smart Choice Award for Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
• Tri-Cities: City of Pasco, City of Kennewick, City of Richland, Benton County, Franklin County, Port of Pasco, Port of Kennewick - Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council Sacagawea Heritage Trail Project: Smart Partnership Award - Development to Implement a Comprehensive Plan
• City of Issaquah - Issaquah Transit Oriented Development Agreement: Smart Partnership Award - Development to Implement a Comprehensive Plan
• City of Sammamish - Over the Counter Permit Approval Process: Judges Merit Award
• Garfield County - Garfield County Zoning Ordinance/Comprehensive Plan: Judges Merit Award

The Governor's Smart Communities Awards - For Outstanding Achievement in Creating Livable and Vibrant Communities 2008 Winners.    

   Slide Show of the winning nominations for 2008

• City of Everett - 2006 Update of the Everett Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning
• City of Bremerton - Downtown Regional Center Sub Area Plan: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning
• City of Newcastle - Pulling Plans and Policies into 3-D: Smart Choice Award for Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
• City of Kirkland - Incentives for Housing Choice: Smart Choice Award for Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
• City of Sumner - Town Center Implementation Project: Smart Partnership Award - Development to Implement a Comprehensive Plan.
• Adams County - Strategic Planning for Economic Development: Judges' Merit Award (Adams County, City of Othello, City of Ritzville, Port of Othello, Town of Lind, Town of Hatton, Town of Washtucna

The Governor's Smart Communities Awards - For Outstanding Achievement in Creating Livable and Vibrant Communities
2007 Winners:

• Seattle's Broadway Crossing - Public/Private Partnerships: Brought together many elements of the plan to meet the number of needs.  Amazing turnout and support for affordable housing and diversity.
• City of Bellevue - Neighborhood Investment Strategy: This report does the best job of showing how the project ties back to the comprehensive plan.  Clear benefit to those in West Lake Hills neighborhood, but also enhances the city as a whole.
• City of Bothell - Capital Facilities Plan: Public participation in building the plan was key and tied back to the comprehensive plan.  Both the technology used and policy guides are very innovative.
• City of Everett - Downtown Subarea Plan: The scope and approach was great.  It is innovative because they try to look at the economics of future growth.
• City of Oak Harbor - Fort Nugent Park/Community Built Playground: Adequate recreation facilities should be a key goal in all comprehensive plans.  Great leverage and a clear vote of approval in the community.
• City of SeaTac - SeaTac/Airport Station Area Action Plan and South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan: It is innovative in several ways - the interagency collaboration; reacquisition of property owners' roles and rights - but particularly in seeking to capitalize on the opportunity of this transit improvement.
• Tacoma Housing Authority - Salishan Hope VI Redevelopment Project: This program met city plan goals by not reducing density - but also opening parks, improving draingage and adding green space.  Financing is impressive; affordability outstanding.
• Seattle Housing Authority - West Seattle's New High Point: Great project.  Incorporates a lot of growth management act principles.  They have built in housing, and addressed transporatation impacts and environmental issues - can be a model for others.
• Stevens County - Comprehensive Plan: Significant breakthrough in developing the comprehensive plan.  Stevens County deserves recognition for their public participation discussions.

2006 Winners:

• City of Bainbridge Island - Winslow Tomorrow: Emphasis on re-use of existing buildings for housing, businesses and public services fits well with the small business assistance program and transit orientation toward a revitalized downtown.
• City of Bremerton - Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Code Update: the speed with which they matched code to plans is amazing - need more of this.
• City of Redmond - Redmond Comprehensive Plan: Especially good example of incorporating a housing element into a comprehensive plan for the community.
• City of Woodinville - Greenbrier Heights Affordable Housing Community: Clear that affordable housing served as well as open space - and community amenities.
• Jefferson County - Implementing Jefferson County Policy to Support Agriculture While Protecting Fish & Wildlife Habitat: Worked with all stakeholders for a workable solution - not an easy task.
• King County Housing Authority and GGLO - White Center Greenbridge Revitalized Neighborhood: Great redevelopment project integrating many of the aspects of growth management planning, notably trnasporation and housing, into a project that has substantial benefit to the community.
• Snohomish County - Transfer of Development Rights Program (TDR): If successfully implemented, provides a direct, tangible connection between three important goals of the Growth Management Act - conservation of natural resource lands, encouraging new growth in urban areas, and reducing sprawl.

Puget Sound Regional Council Vision 2020 Awards - The Awards recognize inspiring projects, plans, and programs that increase the vitality of the central Puget Sound region and help implement the region's growth, economic, and transportation strategy.

Planning Association of Washington - The program is designed to recognize exemplary planning efforts in the state of Washington; promote quality planning at all levels of government and by the private sector; and increase public awareness of the role of planning in the state.