Hogle-Ireland is fortunate to have clients as impassioned as we are about planning and creating unique and livable places. This year, several cities and private sector clients were recognized by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and local American Planning Association (APA) chapters for their creative approaches to long-range planning, sustainable development practices, and community engagement. Hogle-Ireland worked with the following communities and clients to achieve success:

SCAG Compass Blueprint Awards

City of Downey - Downtown Downey Specific Plan

Achievement in Livability Award

The Downtown Downey Specific Plan was designed based upon the City’s desire to guide growth and facilitate development in the Downtown core, encourage economic revitalization, and create a dynamic center of activity in the City. The 131-acre Specific Plan area is envisioned to be the hub of the City in the form of a traditional downtown, including a civic center, transit center and central gathering space supported by commercial and residential development. The Specific Plan establishes the Downtown as a vibrant urban center with dining, employment, housing, shopping, entertainment, and cultural opportunities all within a short walking distance of one another.

A crucial aspect of the Specific Plan is the incorporation of a Park-Once Strategy designed to get residents out of their cars, and walking to reach multiple destinations within one trip, thereby reducing the dependence on automobiles. A major recommendation to reinforce this strategy is the relocation of the Downey Depot Transit Center from the edge of the project area to a more prominent, central location in the Downtown. The relocation will increase visibility and facilitate a more direct connection with the Lakewood Metro Green Line station located just south of the Specific Plan area.

Since adoption of the Specific Plan in September of 2010, the Downtown has experienced transformation and growth with the opening of Porto’s Bakery, a new Fresh N’ Easy market, the approval of a 50 unit affordable apartment complex, and the rehabilitation of an existing, gateway commercial center. Another 25 unit affordable condominium project is being considered in the Downtown core at Downey Avenue at Third Street. These redevelopment projects serve as catalysts and impel City leaders to move forward with other objectives including relocation of the transit center and creation of a central gathering space for the community.

City of San Bernardino - Energy Efficiency Pilot Program

President's Award for Excellence - Visionary Planning for Prosperity

San Bernardino Energy Efficiency Pilot Project, which is a component of Sustainable San Bernardino, is designed as a model local program that creates green jobs, lowers building energy costs, and reduces pollution and carbon emissions through the installation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in existing buildings from every sector of the local economy. The Program creates new jobs and provides resources for training for individuals seeking to gain employment as auditors, retrofitters, solar installers and other green occupations. San Bernardino’s Energy Efficiency Program is a collaborative project in conjunction with the City of San Bernardino, Southern California Association of Governments, Green Valley Initiative and several community partnerships. Developed with the assistance of Southern California Edison and the Gas Company, the program is designed to inform, educate, and invite property owners who wish to convert homes, offices, or business into more energy efficient structures. The program has long term benefit for the City and the region by creating a competitive advantage for future development and sustainability.

APA - Inland Empire Chapter

Cal Poly Pomona - Winter 2011 Community Planning Studio

Academic Award

This class project was led by Hogle-Ireland Project Manager, Rick Zimmer. The project involved a design plan to enhance the Metrolink Station at La Sierra Avenue in Riverside. The design proposes a mixed use walkable downtown plan to link the Metrolink Station across State Route 91 (SR-91) to the proposed Magnolia Avenue busway, the Kaiser Permanente Regional Medical complex, and other regional and local uses.

City of Rancho Cucamonga - General Plan

Comprehensive Planning Award of Merit: Large Jurisdiction

Unique to the Rancho Cucamonga General Plan is the “Healthy RC” theme, with goals and policies that inspires a lifestyle that embraces a healthy Mind, Body and Earth through lifelong learning and enrichment, active and healthy living, and environmental sustainability. The Healthy RC program recognizes the positive impacts that an individual’s health can have for oneself and the community, with increased productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and enhanced community interactions and engagement. The General Plan integrates these components into each chapter, creating a brand that promotes a positive physical, social, and economic environment for the entire Rancho Cucamonga community.

City of Rialto - General Plan

Comprehensive Planning Award of Merit: Small Jurisdiction

The Rialto General Plan is a model for conciseness, thoroughness, and simplicity. The Plan combines text, maps, and images in an intriguing manner that allows for easy communication of community goals and the environmental conditions that will continue to influence development decisions over the long term. These four Guiding Principles serve as the foundation for all elements:

• Be a family first community.
• Attract high-quality new development and improve Rialto’s physical environment.
• Ensure economic environment is healthy and diverse.
• Be an active community.

City of Victorville - Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
(a SCAG Compass Blueprint project)

Focused Issue Award of Merit

The Non-Motorized Transportation Plan promotes the use of the Mojave River, river washes, public utility easements, existing specific plan paseo systems, future paseos, and the existing roadway system to develop non-motorized facilities. The Plan focuses on improving bicycle and pedestrian safety, developing a bikeway/pedestrian network, improving the bicycle-transit link, providing end of trip facilities such as bicycle parking, showers, and lockers, and promoting bicycling and walking for public health and fitness through education and encouragement. Implementation of the Plan will create a complete network of bikeways and trails serving and connecting every neighborhood in the City.

Pro-Logis Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center

Planning Project Award of Merit

Hogle-Ireland, Inc. assisted in the entitlement and development of The Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center (RDC) in Ontario. The RDC is an innovative concept recently developed by The Home Depot to more efficiently stock their retail stores in each region. Through the use of the RDC, the total truck miles, and thus greenhouse gas emissions, are reduced. Combined with their knowledge of and commitment to sustainable warehouse design, ProLogis has created an innovative and environmentally friendly method of goods movement and storage. An attractive feature along the eastern edge of the project is a 100-foot wide “eastern drainage channel” which serves as a natural storm drain channel and mitigation for the relocation of the streambed. The channel is designed to address 100-year storm events, and the banks are planted with native plants which create a beautiful setback along the street. The RDC is currently under review by the U.S. Green Building Council and is expected to achieve a LEED Silver rating.

APA - Los Angeles Chapter

Cal Poly Pomona - Winter 2011 Community Planning Studio

Academic Award

This class project was also led by Hogle-Ireland Project Manager, Rick Zimmer. The Studio studied a vacant site in the City of Bradbury. The design calls for a series of public activity modules which can be arranged and developed in any order the City desires as it receives grant money and other funding. Modules include a horse trail, pedestrian and bicycle trails, a public art walk, a dog park, children's playground, exercise facilities, and a food court to be served by high-end food trucks.

City of Arcadia - General Plan

Comprehensive Planning Award of Merit: Small Jurisdiction

Arcadia’s General Plan program engaged the public in a General Plan update effort that focused on three key areas: 1) creating a Downtown Plan that will respond to the extension of Gold Line light rail service to Arcadia, 2) reinventing portions of Live Oak Avenue to better serve surrounding neighborhoods and provide opportunities for housing, and 3) developing a citywide bicycle plan. Also, the General Plan confirms the City’s commitment to its motto of “A City of Homes.”

The public outreach program included extensive stakeholder interviews, meetings with community groups, focused outreach to Chinese-language communities, coordination with the Gold Line Authority, public workshops, and several study sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council. In addition, participants could learn about the planning effort via the General Plan website (www.ArcadiaGeneralPlan.com), a newsletter prepared by City staff, articles in local newspapers, and targeted mailers.

The new Downtown Arcadia plan within the General Plan establishes policies that will allow mixed-use development, enhance pedestrian movement, and encourage public art.

APA - Orange County Chapter

City of Downey – Downtown Downey Specific Plan

Outstanding Planning Award – Outstanding Planning Outside Orange County by an Orange County Firm

The Downtown Downey Specific Plan was designed based upon the City’s desire to guide growth and facilitate development in the Downtown core, encourage economic revitalization, and create a dynamic center of activity in the City. The 131-acre Specific Plan area is envisioned to be the hub of the City in the form of a traditional downtown, including a civic center, transit center and central gathering space supported by commercial and residential development. The Specific Plan has been designed to create a Downtown with vibrant urban center with dining, employment, housing, shopping, entertainment, and cultural opportunities all within a short walking distance of one another.