And the winners are:

The 2004 award winners were recognized at the annual meeting in Lake Placid for their outstanding contributions to the field

Heissenbuttel Award for Planning Excellence
Ann Gallelli, Village of Croton-on-Hudson Planning Board

The New York Planning Federation’s Heissenbuttel Award for Planning Excellence is given to an individual, municipality or agency for outstanding or innovative accomplishment in the planning field, or for consistent support of the New York Planning Federation in its efforts toward better planning.

This year’s award recipient is Ann Gallelli, who was nominated by Georgianna Grant, Deputy Mayor of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County. Ms. Gallelli has served as member and current Chair of the Planning Board, member of the Village Board, Chair of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan Committee and key member of the Waterfront Advisory Committee. Several glowing letters of support testify to Ms. Gallelli’s outstanding and continuing contributions to orderly growth and development in her Village over 25 years.

Some of Ms. Gallelli’s key accomplishments include leading roles in the creation of the Village Gateway Districts, the Steep Slopes, Tree Preservation and Hiking Trails Laws, the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and the new Comprehensive Plan.

Ms. Gallelli is described as an extraordinary worker, with tremendous energy, skill and insight, and demonstrating outstanding dedication and knowledge of the planning field. Widely-respected, her exceptional leadership is evident in her active promotion of citizen involvement in planning issues and in her extraordinary sensitivity to citizens and issues.

One admirer calls Ms. Gallelli the Village’s “key resource for all planning related topics,” adding that “the breadth and depth of her wise influence on planning and people is immeasurable.” Another calls her “a local treasure.”

Says yet another, “Croton formulated a plan 27 years ago and, because of the persistence and tenacity of a few people like Ann, that plan was largely adhered to in the face of many proposals which would have violated it. Croton is a community loved by its residents in large part because of Ann Gallelli’s tireless efforts over the last quarter century.