Sean Walther, City of St. Louis Park Planning Manager and Deputy Community Development Director, has been named the Peg and Otto Schmid Planner of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association (MnAPA). The Peg and Otto Schmid Planner of the Year award is given to a mid-career planner who has demonstrated excellence in planning and a significant, positive contribution to the planning practice in Minnesota.

Sean was recognized for his exemplary work across many areas of planning in St. Louis Park and beyond, as well as his advocacy for race equity, stakeholder engagement and transparency in the planning profession. Specific projects highlighted included Sean’s role in the public-private partnership for the Minnehaha Creek Preserve and development of the Texa-Tonka small area plan, both in St. Louis Park.

“As both a team member and leader, he has participated in numerous projects to shape more sustainable local growth, provide transparency to the public, and ensure the new light rail transit line is paired with high-quality, transit-oriented development,” said Micah Davidson, MnAPA Awards Coordinator, when presenting the award. “He has clearly worn many hats and has left many fingerprints on his community. As one of our awards jurors put it, ‘Sean's mantra as a practicing planner seems simple: do what is right.’”

Other highlighted accomplishments in Sean’s award nomination included contributions and service to multiple state chapter committees; mentoring of and guest presentations to planning students at three Minnesota state universities; presentations shared at state and national conferences along with recent workshops and mobile tours at The West End and Excelsior & Grand; and 17 years of volunteer service and leadership with the Minnesota Design Team, helping rural Minnesota communities to develop shared visions for improving their physical and environmental designs. Sean is an AICP-certified planner with 27 years of experience, 17 of which have been with the City of St. Louis Park.

Picture: At left, Sean Walther, City of St. Louis Park, with his Planner of the Year award. Also pictured (center) John Shardlow, Stantec, who received a lifetime achievement award, and (right) PeggySue Imihy Bean, MnAPA president and special projects and initiatives manager for the City of Hopkins.