EPA Recognizes Lancaster County For Smart Growth Achievements

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson this week recognized four diverse communities that are models of how to grow in ways that protect our nation’s air, land, and water; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; provide safe and affordable housing; and strengthen local economies, including Lancaster County.

“Every year the Smart Growth Achievement Award winners show us new and creative ways to bring environmental sustainability to our communities -- and this year is no exception,” said EPA Administrator Jackson. “Smart Growth has an important role to play in building a new foundation for prosperity in communities across the nation. Innovative Smart Growth techniques give communities from urban to suburban to rural the chance to be environmentally sustainable and economically resilient.”

The Overall Excellence Award went to the Lancaster County Planning Commission for Envision Lancaster County.

Lancaster County is known for its historic towns and villages, and its fertile farmland. To maintain the county’s character, its diverse economy, and its natural resources for future generations, the Lancaster County Planning Commission established a countywide comprehensive growth management plan, which protects valuable farmland and historic landscapes by directing development to established towns and cities in the county.

These four award winners demonstrate the community benefits of aligning housing, transportation, and environmental objectives, one of the key goals of the new Partnership for Sustainable Communities between EPA, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. The partnership helps rural, suburban, and urban communities improve access to affordable housing, create more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment.

EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to recognize exceptional approaches to development that protect the environment, foster economic vitality, and enhance quality of life. Over the past eight years, 623 communities in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, have applied to EPA to be considered for this award. In addition to presenting the annual awards, EPA’s Smart Growth Program helps America’s communities turn their visions of the future into reality through research, tools, partnerships, case studies, grants, and technical assistance.

For more information on the winners visit EPA’s Smart Growth Program or the Partnership for Sustainable Communities webpage.