The APA Small Town and Rural (STaR) Planning Division selected the Longmeadow Climate-Resilient Long Range Plan for a national planning award at this year’s National Planning Conference. STaR leaders announced the 2025 Vernon Deines Honor Award for an Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan, Small Jurisdiction for Longmeadow’s plan during a ceremony at the University of Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning on March 31. APA-MA previously selected the Longmeadow Climate-Resilient Long Range Plan Comprehensive Plan for the Best Small-Town Planning Project Award in December 2024.
Longmeadow’s Comprehensive Plan focuses climate resilience, social equity, and sustainability. Adopted in June 2024, the plan was created during a two-year planning process led by Barrett Planning Group, with assistance from BETA Group, Inc., and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). The process included a wide variety of groups in Longmeadow. It involved engagement and educational initiatives such as a short documentary and visual exhibit based on personal stories from residents, and “community liaison” positions on the Long-Range Plan Steering Committee. The project also included a “Hidden Communities” analysis, working with Longmeadow’s public safety and school officials to identify and reach non-residents working in Longmeadow or otherwise having ties to the town, including those experiencing homelessness, people with Limited English Proficiency, and others, in order to plan for effective communications with them in the event of a natural hazard. In addition, Longmeadow’s capital improvements plan process was reviewed in order to identify ways to strengthen climate action in capital project prioritization and funding decisions.
Corrin Meise-Munns, Longmeadow’s former planning director, provided invaluable staff support throughout the project. The Planning Board adopted the plan in June 2024. For more information on the Climate Resilient Long-Range Plan, see the Town of Longmeadow website.