SANFORD — When James Q. Gulnac clears out his desk on the third floor of City Hall Wednesday, he’ll be taking home two awards and a lot of memories.

Gulnac is retiring after 14 years as Sanford’s director of planning and community development, a gig that capped a lifetime of working with people and municipalities.

On Tuesday, at the City Council meeting, Sanford’s new planner, Beth DellaValle, stepped up to the podium and presented Gulnac with the Maine Association of Planners Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The planning profession can be personally rewarding in helping broker positive changes in a community and the lives of its residents, business owners and organizations,” said DellaValle, a past president of the MAP.

She noted the profession requires long hours, frequent early morning, evening and weekend meetings, and difficult decisions, and as a result, few people remain in the profession until they retire.

“Jim Gulnac truly deserves this award, especially for his 14-year commitment to Sanford and the many improvements he helped bring about in the community,” said DellaValle, citing brownfield clean up and redevelopment, cutting-edge advancements in development review and regulation, support of the creation of a veterans’ cemetery and his involvement in local organizations like Rotary and Strategies for a Stronger Sanford.

The second award of the night was presented by City Manager Steve Buck.

Earlier this month, Sanford was the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Phoenix Award for its redevelopment of the Sanford Mill. The federal agency partnered with the city and a number of other entities, like the York County Planning and Development Commission and developer Northland Enterprises and a host of others, to transform the run-down former Goodall Mill property to a successful apartment complex and commercial space.

Gulnac, as well as being the city’s planner and community development director, is also Sanford’s brownfield coordinator.

Buck presented the Phoenix Award to Gulnac, calling the award the culmination of Gulnac’s work here and his commitment to the city.

“We’d like you to carry this home with you as a sign of your commitment,” he said. There was a standing ovation.

Gulnac began his career in community development in the 1970s and has been a planner for about 35 years.

He expressed his thanks, and said he’d thoroughly enjoyed his 14 years at the job .

“It’s been fun and sometimes it’s been a challenge,” he said with a smile. “I appreciate working with you.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].