Select the award category that best fits your project. Nominations should be made for one category only. Listing of one secondary/alternate category is permitted. Final determination of the most appropriate category will be made by the awards jury.

The award categories are as follows:

• Students – Any project completed as part of an undergraduate or graduate program, including team efforts. Projects awarded in this category should demonstrate a positive contribution to the planning community.
• Implementation – Examples of projects awarded in this category include site selection, site plans, constructed projects, project delivery or evaluation, capital improvement programs, shoreline management projects, projects linking planning and public health, and success in implementing Growth Management Act comprehensive planning.
• Comprehensive Planning/Development Regulations-Large Cities & Counties – (Cities > 40,000 population and Counties > 60,000) Master plans, urban design standards or guidelines, comprehensive plans, downtown improvement plans, revitalization plans, historic preservation plans, natural resource plans, development codes, economic planning, strategic planning, etc.
• Comprehensive Planning/Development Regulations-Small Cities & Counties – (Cities < 40,000 population and Counties < 60,000) Master plans, urban design standards or guidelines, comprehensive plans, downtown improvement plans, revitalization plans, historic preservation plans, natural resource plans, development codes, economic planning, strategic planning, etc. This is a broad category that includes planning efforts underway across rural areas of Washington State, such as rural elements, natural resource land plans, subarea plans, and local areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRDS).
• Transportation Plans – Transportation planning, corridor studies, transit planning, non-motorized plans, pedestrian plans, and transportation demand management.
• Community Involvement – Community outreach, participation or education efforts related to planning programs or constructed projects, relationship and acceptance of community stakeholders; this includes projects working with special populations such as youth or communities not typically engaged in planning.
• Sustainability– Creating and/or implementing plans, initiatives, programs, and projects related to sustainability and climate change.

The nominated plan or project must demonstrate how it meets the following criteria:

1. Outstanding application of planning principles: How the nominated plan or project not only meets but exceeds sound planning principles and practices.

2. Implementation of community values: How community values, as contained within a planning document/vision statement, are reflected in the plan or project.

3. Contribution to specific planning technologies: such as wireless devices, web-based tools, permit review & tracking systems, etc. How the plan or project used emerging technologies and/or techniques plus how your experience can serve as a model or be applied by others.

4. Furtherance of GMA: How the plan or project advanced the goals of the GMA in a local jurisdiction.

5. Suitability of the solution to the problem or context: How the plan or project provides an appropriate approach to an issue and how it has been embraced or implemented by the community/client.

6. Innovative and/or creative solution or project, and demonstration of applicability to other projects: How the plan or project has successfully used a new or rarely used approach to a problem and how transferrable this innovation is to other planning scenarios.

Nominated projects must also comply with the following eligibility requirements:

• Regional projects or plans that extend beyond Washington State may be eligible but must have a substantial nexus to planning in Washington.

• All plans must have been completed, meaning a document has been finalized for formal consideration by local government (i.e., Planning Commissions, Councils or Commissioners) or has been adopted.

• For construction projects, improvements must be substantially complete by March 31, 2024.

• For student projects, submittals must be completed as required by your degree program.

Payment will be requested as part of the online submittal and may be made through the online form or by requesting an invoice. Payment is non-refundable.

Fees (per application):

• Student Non-profit Organizations: $25.00
• APA or PAW members: $150.00
• Non-members: $200.00

Questions regarding payment should be directed to:

Pam Sefrino, Association Executive, APA-WA
2150 N 107^th St, Suite 330
Seattle, WA 98133-9009
(206) 682-7436

Email: office@washington-apa.org

NOTE: Award nominations must be received by 5:00 PM on Monday, July 15, 2024. Late submittals will not be considered.

For more information about the sponsoring organizations, including membership, visit their websites:

American Planning Association: www.washington-apa.org
Planning Association of Washington: www.planningpaw.org

Email: Amy@aminc.org