College Park was one of five communities selected to receive support and assistance through a government program that encourages mixed-use, environment-sensitive and community-conscious development.

The city will utilize assistance of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to orchestrate a workshop among those who have a stake in the future of Route 1 development, including property owners, developers, civic associations, the university and others.

Of the selection, College Park’s Director of Planning Terri Schum said, “We’re thrilled.”

“I think everyone is anxious to pull all of the stakeholders together on Route 1 and have a meeting of the minds for the development of the future,” Schum said.

Though the city has had a Route 1 Sector Plan establishing various development guidelines for two years, Schum said the plan lacks specificity in some areas — “so there has been varying interpretations and expectations of the final product” — on such issues as heights of buildings and the character of certain segments of the city.

The EPA announced its selection last Thursday. The program does not provide financial assistance but will provide contracted expertise to help selected cities achieve their goals.

Fifty-six communities from 28 states applied for the program this spring. Applicants requested assistance for either analysis of a policy issue or help with a public process, Schum said. Five communities were selected after proposals were subjected to a rigorous evaluation by EPA reviewers.

Geoffrey Anderson, director of the Development, Community and Environment Division at the EPA, said College Park’s application was distinguished by its clear focus and demonstration of “very strong support from a variety of stakeholders.”

“There are so many communities that are facing the same kind of situations that College Park is,” Anderson said. “We think this could really be a model [for other communities] if we could help College Park make a successful run at this.”

Through its housing plan, the Route 1 Sector Plan and economic development plan, Schum said the city has attempted to incorporate Smart Growth principles already.

Though it previously provided informal technical assistance, this is the first year for this particular Smart Growth initiative, created in response to an increasing number of requests for assistance.

The other selected communities were Taos, N.M., Cheyenne, Wyo., Aquidneck Island, R.I., and McCall, Idaho. Anderson estimated each city’s services are valued between $40,000 and $50,000.

District 3 Councilman Eric Olson presented the idea to Schum after learning about the opportunity through his work with the Sierra Club, an environmental lobbying group.

It was easy to make the case to utilize the program, Olson said, because its guidelines spoke directly to those issues affecting College Park, including public transportation, community planning and redevelopment.

A start date has not been set, though Anderson estimated the assistance will begin within several months. “We’re pretty much ready to go, on our side,” Anderson said. “It’s just a matter of seeing when our resources are available and when their folks can meet.”

“We’re looking forward to our first meeting with [consultants],” Schum said.