City recognized for planning excellence

The City of Dripping Springs is being recognized for Planning Excellence by the Texas Chapter of The American Planning Association.

Each year, the chapter recognizes planning excellence in municipalities throughout the state. For the 2019-2020 Recognition Program, the City of Dripping Springs was recognized for excellence, along with 39 other cities in Texas.

The criteria for winning includes:

• Increasing community awareness of the importance of planning;

• Recognizing planning departments which meet certain professional requirements;

• Recognizing planning efforts that have achieved community support;

• Encouraging the funding of professional training for Planning Commissioners and staff;

• Aiding economic development and community image.

The recognition is part of the “Richard R. Lillie, FAICP Planning Excellence Recognition Program,” named to honor Richard Lillie who helped plan Austin city growth for more than 23 years, from 1965- 1884. He was once called the “most competent planning director in the southwest,” and was instrumental in the planning of much of the growth you see in Austin today, including watershed ordinances, the Loop 360 Ordinance, the creation of Municipal Utility Districts and more.

Dripping Springs will receive the award at the American Planning Association Texas Conference, on November 6-8, 2019, in Waco, Texas.