The Smart and Sustainable Growth Recognition Program provides formal recognition and independent support of specific development proposals that exemplify smart and sustainable growth characteristics. The aim of the program is to encourage support and approval of outstanding smart growth project proposals by informing regulators, public officials, citizen groups, and others of the advantages these projects bring to a community and region.

What kinds of project proposals are eligible for consideration? Private-sector residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects (both new construction and rehabilitation) are eligible for consideration. Only developments that are - or shortly will be – under review for development approval and have not completed the entitlement process or broken ground are eligible to apply. Applicants should contact the Alliance Director at 301-986-5959 or dwestbrooke@sgalliance.org before submitting an application. Development proposals unlikely to achieve recognition, even though they may otherwise be eligible, may not be accepted for review.

What are the application deadlines? The Alliance accepts applications for review on a quarterly basis. The 2009 application deadlines expire at the Close of Business on:

March 30
June 15
September 15
December 15

What are the criteria used by the Jury to evaluate applications? The Jury evaluates each application against a set of demanding recognition criteria relating to these characteristics of a proposed development:

• Location
  
• Density, design, and diversity of land uses
  
• Transportation, mobility, and accessibility
  
• Environmental conservation
  
• Community benefits
• Community participation

The criteria vary depending on the level of recognition sought.

What different levels of recognition are available?  Various categories of recognition are available, at the jury’s discretion, depending on the stage of the development proposal, the amount of detail available to the jury, the development’s location and the extent to which the proposal addresses the housing needs of families with extremely low and low-to-moderate incomes.

• Preliminary Recognition recognizes proposals in their early stages and is based on the Preliminary Recognition Criteria set out below. Preliminary Recognition is intended to be used by the developer only to help obtain preliminary or concept approvals required by a local government when a project is at a planning and design stage where many specific details are largely unknown, have yet to be addressed, or are not yet specified, and only indicates that the Plan conceptually meets the Alliance’s smart growth standards. If, as the project proceeds toward entitlement and approval, the developer elaborates upon the design and specifications in a manner consistent with smart growth principles and the Final Recognition Criteria, the development would likely be qualified for Final Recognition.

• Final Recognition must be based on detailed design and specification data and graphics, and indicates that the development meets the Alliance’s criteria for Preliminary and Final Recognition and would, if built as planned, help the Washington region accommodate growth in a manner that achieves sustainable economic, environmental and quality-of-life objectives.

• Exemplary Recognition is granted to developments that meet the Exemplary as well as the Preliminary and Final Recognition Criteria. Exemplary developments will be those that surpass most or all local  requirements. For developments located in local jurisdictions with the highest smart growth and sustainability requirements in the region, the jury may at its discretion accept only applications for Exemplary Recognition, in order to insure that the recognition program and its benefits (publicity, testimony, etc.) have the desired effect of enhancing the sustainability of development in the region.

• Affordable Housing Distinction is a special recognition of projects that go beyond local requirements for the provision of low income housing. Low wage working families earning less than 80%, but especially below 60% of area median income (AMI)face the greatest housing cost burdens. The Washington Smart Growth Alliance will recognize those projects that distinguish themselves with providing for low income housing needs in our region, in addition to meeting our other criteria.

• Workforce Housing Recognition is a special category of recognition conferred jointly by the Washington Smart Growth Alliance and the ULI Terwilliger Center in Washington D.C. Recognized projects must have 10 percent of their residential units targeted for households with 60% to 120% of AMI (area median income). New construction and rehabilitation residential and mixed-use projects are eligible for consideration as long as they provide at least eight workforce housing units or the workforce housing units constitute more than 50 percent of the project. Special consideration is given to the proximity of the workforce housing to employment centers and/or transit nodes.

 

What are the benefits of recognition?  Recognition signifies that the project, as designed, will help the region accommodate anticipated growth in a manner that achieves economic, environmental, and quality-of-life objectives. The purpose of the program is to educate public officials and the public at large about the benefits of recognized projects to the community and region. This is accomplished through:

• A letter of recognition from the Alliance that can provided to local authorities or others to demonstrate independent recognition of the smart growth characteristics of the proposal
• Permission to use the Alliance’s “seal of recognition” on websites and other communications signifying the recognition
• Publicity through press releases, ads, web site summaries and recognition at Alliance events
• Independent testimony at public meetings or hearings by Alliance staff explaining the recognition program and detailing why the proposal gained smart growth recognition
• Presentations at community meetings on smart growth principles and the smart growth criteria used by the Alliance to evaluate developments

Are any risks associated with applying? Applicants whose projects are not granted recognition are notified of this decision in the strictest confidence - this is a no-risk process for the applicant regardless of the jury’s decision.

What are the costs of applying? There is an application fee of $2,500 for each application. If an applicant for Preliminary Recognition plans to apply for Final Recognition at a later date, a combined fee of $3,500 may be paid at the time of the first application (versus $5,000 for two separate applications). Checks should be made out to the “Washington Smart Growth
Alliance".

Is there an application form? What information must be submitted?  There is no separate application form. The level of detailed information and materials required to support an application vary somewhat depending on the level of recognition, as shown in Table 1.

The applicant should address all applicable questions or information items listed in the applicable recognition criteria in a narrative no longer than 20 letter-sized pages (not including cover pages or images) and submit this in a bound format. Printed materials, such as marketing brochures, as well as any studies or reports by either the applicant or the jurisdiction, may be submitted as attachments. The application must be accompanied by full-size copies of concept plans, site plans, or other plans or drawings, such as elevations; maps and aerial photographs; site photographs of current conditions; and any graphics that may prove illegible when reduced to letter size. Submit one digital version of the main narrative and 15 hard copies of the application booklet and one copy of each full or oversized plan, map, photograph or drawing.

Where should applications be sent?  Email digital materials to: dwestbrooke@sgalliance.org.  Mail or hand-deliver applications to:

Washington Smart Growth Alliance
4909 Cordell Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814

For more information see the Alliance website at www.sgalliance.org or contact us at dwestbrooke@sgalliance.org.