The California chapter of the American Planning Association (APA CA) has awarded the West Hollywood Community Develop-ment Department with its 2015 award of excellence for a planning agency and recognized the Courtyard at La Brea with its 2015 opportunity and empowerment award of excellence. The awards were announced and conferred at the APA CA 2015 annual conference, which took place in October in Oakland.

The APA CA awards program encourages quality in planning and increases the public’s awareness of the planning profession by recognizing outstanding achievement in the field.

The West Hollywood Community Development Depart-ment is responsible for managing the city’s urban environment and creating a livable community that balances the needs of residents, businesses, property owners and visitors.

The APA CA said West Hollywood embodies all of the criteria of an “excellent planning agency.”  The Courtyard at La Brea, which is a partnership of the city of West Hollywood, the community housing corporation, Los Angeles County and the L.A. LGBT Center.

For information about the city’s housing programs, visit www.weho.org/housing.