The Village of Greenhills has been named winner of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission's (HCRPC) 2011 Frank F. Ferris II Community Planning Award for its comprehensive planning (PDF) and citizen participation process.

Greenhills officials will accept the award at the HCRPC Planning Partnership Annual Meeting on March 25 at McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant on , Downtown.

Adopted by Village Council on October 27, 2009 as the village's first comprehensive plan since its creation as a Greenbelt Community in the 1930s, the project was the result of a series of public meetings led by a council-appointed steering committee between November 2008 and August 2009.

Goals and objectives were grouped into the seven themes of image; the Village Center; community life; schools and education; housing and neighborhoods; open spaces, recreation and community services; and redevelopment and economic development. A series of short- and long-term recommendations and implementation strategies were developed for each theme.

In addition to citizen involvement, the plan was also recognized for provisions that allow the community to look outside of its borders for assistance in implementing the plan.

These provisions include consistently involving the public in community affairs; seeking regional cooperation; participating in regional planning efforts; networking and partnering with other local, state, and national organizations; and exploring public-private partnerships.

Created by the HCRPC in 1995, the Frank F. Ferris II Planning Award is an annual recognition of planning commissions or committees that "have contributed to the elevation of planning principles, greater awareness of the value of planning, and improved quality of life". The award was created to honor Ferris for his lifelong dedication to municipal, county, and regional planning activities.

Past winners include Front Street Analytics, Kinzelman Kline Gossman, SHP Leading Design, Price Hill Will, the City of Cincinnati and the City of Springdale for the Glenway Market Study and Redevelopment Plan and the Tri-County Retail District Plan (2010); the City of Cincinnati Climate Protection Steering Committee for its Green Cincinnati Plan (2009); and the North College Hill Planning Commission for its comprehensive plan (2008).

Images courtesy of the 2009 Village of Greenhills, Ohio Comprehensive Plan

Previous reading on BC:
Nominations for Hamilton Co planning award due next Monday (2/21/11)