Comprehensive Plan Standards for Sustaining Places Recognition Program Pilot
APA's work developing the comprehensive plan standards grew out of the larger Sustaining Places initiative. In May 2016, APA launched the Comprehensive Plan Standards for Sustaining Places Recognition Program Pilot. Communities that have integrated sustainability into comprehensive plans adopted or amended within the last five years submitted their plans for recognition.
In October 2016, during National Community Planning Month, APA recognized eight comprehensive plans as examples of excellence in comprehensive planning through the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan Standards Recognition Program Pilot.
APA completed a second phase of the pilot program in the spring of 2017 and recognized five additional plans as examples of excellence in comprehensive planning.
Imagine 2040-Temple Terrace Comprehensive Plan
Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission and the City of Temple Terrace, Florida
Melissa Zornitta, AICP, executive director of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, talks with APA's Anna Read, AICP, about the "Imagine 2040" comprehensive plans for three Florida cities: Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City. Zornitta talks about the ways the different jurisdictions came together to achieve a holistic vision for the region:
Imagine 2040-Plant City Comprehensive Plan
Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission and the City of Plant City, Florida
City of Fernandina Beach 2030 Comprehensive Plan
City of Fernandina Beach, Florida
Plan Prince George's 2035
Prince George's County, Maryland
plaNorfolk2030
City of Norfolk, Virginia
Phase 1 Recognized Plans
The first phase of the pilot program was completed in October 2016 and APA recognized the following eight plans as examples of excellence in comprehensive planning:
Envision Longmont
City of Longmont, Colorado
Imagine 2040: Tampa Comprehensive Plan
Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission and the City of Tampa, Florida
Bring It On Bloomington!
McLean County (Illinois) Regional Planning Commission
Vasudha Pinnamaraju, AICP, executive director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission, talks with APA's Anna Read, AICP, about Bring It On Bloomington!, the city's comprehensive plan. Pinnamaraju describes the background of the project and how the city overcame challenges when seeking community buy-in and input:
Plan DSM
City of Des Moines, Iowa
Plano Tomorrow
City of Plano, Texas
Douglas McDonald, AICP, CNU-A — comprehensive planning manager for the City of Plano, Texas — talks with APA's Anna Read, AICP, about Plano Tomorrow, the city's web-based comprehensive plan. McDonald discusses the unique ways in which the plan's format allows residents to engage with it:
Los Angeles County General Plan
Los Angeles County, California
City of Issaquah Comprehensive Plan
City of Issaquah, Washington
Monroe Comprehensive Plan
City of Monroe, Wisconsin
Review and Recognition Process
Two trained reviewers experienced in comprehensive planning and/or sustainability rating systems reviewed and scored each plan against the comprehensive plan standards.
There are three recognition levels:
- Bronze (score of 70–79%)
- Silver (score of 80–89%)
- Gold (score of 90–100%)
Comprehensive plans recognized at any level will be acknowledged within their communities, at chapter conferences, and at APA's National Planning Conference.
APA Research Director David Rouse, FAICP, presents Silver Level recognition to the City of Plano at the APA Texas Chapter Conference in 2016.