Marble Falls named 'Scenic City'

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH
THE HIGHLANDER

The sights of Marble Falls make everyon who lives or visits here recognize its scenic qualities, but the announcement Friday, June 29 that the town has earned Scenic City Certification in 2016 gives a meaning beyond the views.
Marble Falls has joined cities that include Horseshoe Bay and Lakeway in certification and, yet, the Scenic City Certification Program stresses it is not a “beauty contest.”
“Nowhere in the application is a municipality asked to submit photos,” explains the program's website. “Any city can hire a good photographer to take attractive photos of a city’s distinctive features...Instead, Scenic City distinction demonstrates local government responsibility, since it is the result of your local government’s decisions regarding the development and growth of your community.”
Marble Falls City Planner Elizabeth Yeh submitted the report on the network of ordinances, regulations  and programs that show the city's commitment to high-quality scenic standards for public roadways and public spaces.
“The City of Marble Falls is extremely proud to earn this designation. This award is a result of our community’s commitment to quality-of-life initiatives and it validates the work we have done over the years to strengthen our ordinances and invest in our public spaces and infrastructure,” said Yeh.
“I think the designation is a great fit, not only because our regulations and ordinances are moving in the right direction, but because beautiful scenery is one of the things for which Marble Falls is known,” said Christian Fletcher, executive director of the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation.
Nine cities are now certified for the first time, and 14 are re-certifying or upgrading existing certification status, bringing the total certified cities in Texas to 66.
“Through the Scenic City Certification Program, cities access a valuable diagnostic tool,” said Anne Culver, executive vice president of Scenic Texas. “A detailed 360° analysis of existing infrastructure standards supplies cities with a roadmap for future growth and development. We are pleased that so many municipalities applied this year for either first-time certification or re-certification.”
The Scenic City Certification Program is the first in the United States to incorporate a comprehensive set of model standards for design and development of public roadways and public spaces into one program. Cities apply to the program for a rigorous evaluation and scoring of existing municipal standards against the model. Those with the highest evaluation scores earn certification that stays in place for five years.
Certification levels are Recognized, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum and applicants must have in place a system for issuing permits for on-premise signs, a landscaping or tree planting program and a prohitition against new billboards.
A reception to present these 23 municipalities with their Scenic City Certification will be held on Oct. 6, in Austin, during the Texas Municipal League’s Annual Conference Week.
Scenic Texas developed the Scenic City Certification Program in partnership with a long list of organizations that oversee the program, including the Texas Municipal League, Urban Land Institute–Austin, American Planning Association-Texas Chapter, American Council of Engineering Companies Houston, Keep Texas Beautiful, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Scenic America,  Texas Downtown Association, Texas Economic Development Council anad Texas Historical Commission.
For more information and a complete list of certified cities, visit the website sceniccitycertification.org.
In addition to Marble Falls, first time cities are Bee Cave, Cibolo. El Campo, Fort Worth, Nolanville, Pharr, Richmond and Shavano Park. Re-certified are Benbrook, Buda, Cedar Hil,
Denton, Fairview, Frisco, Heath, Hutto, Mansfield, McAllen, North Richland Hills, Pearland, Roanoke and Webster.