Carr, Lynch Hack and Sandell worked closely with the Germantown Design Review Commission to refine its method of operation and develop a set of design standards to guide the review of development proposals. Concurrently, a new enabling ordinance was developed by John Costonis and adopted by the City Council, along with the Design Review Manual. Germantown, a suburb of Memphis, has one of the most effective Design Review processes in the country and a 12-year record of carefully controlling development. The design review manual has become a model for other suburbs. Germantown won the coveted city livability outstanding achievement award in 2011.