Montgomery County, PA

 

NORRISTOWN, PA — The Montgomery County Planning Commission will present its Land Development Awards on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. in conference room 202 of One Montgomery Plaza, Norristown.
 
The Outstanding Land Development Award recognizes projects that exemplify outstanding site planning and design, with every aspect of the project being award-winning.  The two award winners in this category are the Meitner Family Property in Whitpain Township and RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve in Upper Providence Township.

 

The Meitner Family Property will receive the award in recognition of the Meitner family’s vision, collaboration and commitment in completing a successful adaptive reuse project.  This property is recognized for its impressive restoration and preservation efforts.  The project enhances the historic character of the site while creating a unique mixed-use development consisting of offices and two residences.  The existing building, its new addition and the renovated bank barn blend together through the use of building massing, complementary building materials, and architectural details.  This exceptional restoration demonstrates how new development can respect the historic integrity of a site while adapting older buildings to meet contemporary needs. 

 

RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve will receive the award in recognition of the environmentally sensitive and innovative design of a golf course and the preservation of 50 acres of open space.  The golf course and open space account for an impressive 72 percent of the site.  The course, designed to complement the natural landscape, uses native grasses, preserves natural features, and protects and creates wildlife habitat.  Extensive tree planting, attractive water features and conservation techniques enhance the naturalistic landscape.  RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve is an outstanding example of a well-designed, environmentally sensitive golf course that protects, preserves and enhances the natural features on a site.

 

The Planning Merit Award recognizes excellence in site planning and design in one or several aspects of a project, such as a unique pedestrian system, building layout or innovative planning process.  The recipient in this category is the Expansion at Suburban Square in Lower Merion Township.

 

The Expansion at Suburban Square will receive the award in recognition of the commitment to continually enhance a popular community shopping center.  Over its impressive 77-year history, Suburban Square has continued to improve, most recently by adding three new buildings.  In addition, enhanced pedestrian connections, traffic-calming improvements, landscaping and outdoor dining have created an attractive pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.  These improvements, as well as enhancements to the nearby SEPTA station, have created a well-designed transit-oriented environment that benefits commuters and provides a pleasant shopping experience.

 

The Special Recognition Award is given to projects that exhibit successful planning efforts.  The award recipient in this category is the Schuylkill Canal Lock 60 Restoration in Upper Providence Township.

 

The Schuylkill Canal Lock 60 Restoration will receive the award in recognition of the cooperative planning process involved in completing the canal restoration and reconstruction.  Restoration included excavating fill, constructing a historically accurate truss bridge and restoring the huge miter gates at each end of the lock to reopen passage into the canal.  This restoration project successfully recreated a nineteenth century environment which offers residents an opportunity to learn about their heritage while enjoying the many recreational resources along the Schuylkill River. 

 

The 2005 Land Development Awards Committee, consisting of 2005 Montgomery County Planning Commission Board members Dulcie F. Flaharty, Scott Exley, and Pasquale Mascaro, chose the winning projects.

 

For further information, contact Holly Mager at 610-278-3972.