Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association Outstanding Plan (2006)

The Outstanding Planning Award for a Plan is presented for an ordinance, plan, text that has been adopted or implemented that demonstrates innovative planning, and simplicity and ease of understanding, and could be replicated elsewhere.  This year’s award was presented to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Comprehensive Plan 2030. The plan focuses on community diversity and provides specific goals, policies and action steps that can help prepare for change, or if necessary, minimize change while supporting a variety of community types and choices. Instead of providing a traditional land use plan and map, this plan identifies eight different Development Sectors with recommendations for each.  Development Models are also described and suggested for the appropriate Development Sector. This approach creates recommendations and solutions that are sensitive to the individual characteristics of each type of neighborhood or community.