November 6, 2005 – For the first time, the Smart Growth Education Foundation expanded its annual Smart Growth Community Excellence Awards Program to recognize not only builders and developers, but also communities. The annual awards program recognizes development initiatives that apply Smart-Growth Principles.

The first-ever Smart-Growth-Friendly Community Award was presented to the City of Cuyahoga Falls for the Cuyahoga River Corridor Brownfield Area Master Plan. The inaugural award was sponsored by KS Associates.

According to Jeffrey R. Keefe, P.E., P.S., “Cuyahoga Falls’ plan has the potential to become a model for other communities seeking to become environmentally sensitive to development and preserving and enhancing existing natural features.” Keefe is director of KS Associates’ Land Development Group and a board member of the Smart Growth Education Foundation.

The Cuyahoga River Corridor Brownfield Area Master Plan calls for creating a sustainable neighborhood through Smart-Growth Principles including: promoting multiple transportation choices including walkable streets and bicycle paths; using native landscaping and watering techniques to provide efficient usage of water — a key issue for sustainable development; utilizing existing historical buildings for re-use to foster care and respect for the area; creating below-grade parking to screen parking from the street and limiting above-ground structured parking; incorporating green roofs, street trees and light-color reflective surfaces to mitigate the effects of an urban heat island; developing energy-efficient buildings to reduce the need for fuel, power plants and substations; and designing natural runnels to direct stormwater to the Cuyahoga River, ultimately directing slower, cleaner water to the river, reducing erosion and increasing water quality.

In total, 11 regional awards were presented at the 2005 Smart Growth Community Excellence Awards ceremony on October 18, 2005, at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls:

Smart Growth Friendly Community Award (new award 2005) – City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Urban Setting, Multi-Family Development of Less than 50 Units – City Architecture, Random Road Lofts, Cleveland, Ohio.

Urban Setting, Multi-Family Development of 50 Units or More – Zaremba Inc., Villas of WoodHaven, Cleveland, Ohio.

Urban Setting, Mixed Use Development of 20 Acres or More – City Architecture and Marous Brothers Construction, Arbor Park Village, Cleveland, Ohio.

Suburban/Exurban Mixed Use of 20 or More Acres – Forest Lake Development, Lakes at Franklin Mills, Kent, Ohio.

Suburban/Exurban Setting, Single Family, Less than 50 Units – SDC Homes and Neighborhoods, River Estates, Village of Grafton, Ohio.

Development Proposal, Focused – City of Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga River Corridor-Brownfield Area Master Plan, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Development Proposal, Comprehensive – City Architecture and the City of Cleveland, Waterfront District Plan, Cleveland, Ohio.

Best of Show – City Architecture, Arbor Park Village, Cleveland, Ohio.

Precedent Setter Award, Community or Non-Profit – Mayor of the City of Shaker Heights, Judith Rawson.

Precedent Setter Award, Builder Developer – Joe Scaletta, President, SDC Homes and Neighborhoods, Avon, Ohio.

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