ARLINGTON — The Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Planning Association of Washington recently recognized the award-winning planning and development of the city of Arlington’s “Old Town Wetland Project.”

Richard Hart, chair of the 2012 APA Planning Awards Committee, presented the award to Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert, Storm Water Manager Bill Blake and Public Works Director Jim Kelly on Nov. 19, for what Hart and his awards jury deemed “an outstanding project.”

Hart credited those behind the project with demonstrating creativity in tackling the critical issue of storm water control and the concepts of retrofitting, and deemed the project itself a role model-worthy prototype for other cities to follow in those areas.

“Especially noteworthy is the excellent implementation of comprehensive plan goals,” Hart said. “The project retains farmland, and enhances recreation and open space opportunities, which are very important goals. This planning effort has a very efficient use of budget, and leverages multiple funding sources with large amounts of grant monies.”

Hart quoted comments from the awards jury, asserting that the Arlington City Council and city staff should be recognized for persisting with this project for more than a decade, from their acquisition of the land to the planning, funding and eventual implementation of the project.

“This speaks well of the continuity of staff and elected officials in following through from beginning to end,” said Hart, who deemed the project’s nomination well-written and presented, and praised it for addressing “superbly the entire award judging criteria in exact detail. Other cities could certainly use this project nomination as an example for future nominations.”