At the New Braunfels City Council’s regular meeting, the American Planning Association–Texas Chapter presented the city with a Comprehensive Planning Award for its work on the Envision New Braunfels Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in August.
Specifically, New Braunfels was recognized for its community engagement efforts when developing the plan.
“That involvement included engagement of over 8,800 people and over 1,400 written comments with feedback about the plan,” said Chance Sparks, president-elect for the state’s APA chapter. “To put this in perspective, I’ve seen cities five, six, seven times your size that haven’t touched that kind of public involvement or came anywhere close.”
October is recognized as National Community Planning Month, and New Braunfels received one of 16 state planning awards given by the APA. A list of all recipients may be viewed here.
According to a news release, the APA’s annual awards are a way to honor the work of great planners, planning advocates and communities committed to creating places that thrive and prosper.
Additionally, the city received a certificate of achievement for planning excellence from the APA for the second consecutive year.
According to Chris Looney, the city’s director of planning and community development, the city received the certificate based on its:
- commitment to community planning standards;
- increasing awareness of planning;
- enhancement of neighborhood and citizen planning efforts;
- aid in economic development and community image;
- and encouragement for funding of professional training for staff and planning commissioners.
“This honor is especially important due to the rapid growth that we’re always mentioning and seeing in New Braunfels, but even with all of the development process and plan review we were still able to focus on and accomplish significant planning projects, not the least of which is the comprehensive plan,” Looney said. “… This really says a lot in my opinion about our city management and City Council and your support of planning, and I want to thank you all in particular for that,” Looney said.
