Urban Planning Consultant Services

The vendor is required to provide urban planning and consultant development consultant to prepare three (3) strategic small area plans that will serve as actionable blueprints for achieving the town’s comprehensive plan goals, economic growth objectives, and community vision.
- Development of mixed-use hubs
•    The town’s updated comprehensive plan now includes mixed-use hubs. 
•    The small area plans will serve as development plans for three of the five mixed-use hubs. 
•    The ultimate goal is to boost economic growth and serve the local community. 
•    Plans for the mixed-use hubs should include a mix of employment, retail, recreation, and residential opportunities.
o    Main street hub: enhance main street to serve as a vibrant, mixed-use, and pedestrian-oriented corridor and a focal point for civic and cultural activities. 
o    Waterfront: incentivize the restoration and redevelopment of town waterfront as the centerpiece for a vibrant, high-density mixed-use community that leverages the area’s natural resources and recreational opportunities. 
o    Gateway: establish the gateway hub as a mixed-use, retail and employment focused area that enhances the overall vibrancy and connectivity of town.
•    The plans will include the following:
o    Design the main street right-of-way in accordance with the existing guidelines for improving main street between Fraley boulevard and town.
o    The town a more cohesive feel and facilitate travel using all transportation modes.
o    Strategies to expand and upgrade the town’s bicycle and pedestrian facility network to provide safe and easy access to jobs, schools, commercial and entertainment hubs.
o    Strategies that consider the results of the environmental assessment and feasibility study for the waterfront district hub and capitalize on the natural assets of the area, and include recreational uses such as watercraft launches, trails, boardwalks, educational and interpretive signage, outdoor classrooms, eco-tourism, and commercial uses.
o    Evaluation of the development potential for the waterfront district hub based on the findings of the EPA brownfields assessment.
o    Integration of pedestrian connectivity to and along the waterfront to encourage walking and recreational uses. 
o    Strategies to encourage public transportation infrastructure in developments to reduce car trips. 
o    Strategies to promote the development of a planned mixed-use district to redevelop and revitalize the waterfront district, and to foster a diversity of uses that weave together a variety of activities and land uses. 
o    Strategies that encourage waterfront- and creek-oriented activities and access to maximize town potential as an eco-tourism destination and recreational asset. 
o    Strategies to encourage the redevelopment of town and triangle shopping plaza and provide a mix of retail, commercial, employment, and housing opportunities for residents and visitors.
o    Strategies that include public-private partnerships to help implement the redevelopment of town and triangle shopping plaza.
o    Strategies that encourage the mixed-use redevelopment of parcels west of main street to create a cohesive linkage between existing neighborhoods and future shopping center redevelopment.
- Initiation and planning
•    Form a steering committee: assemble a group of stakeholders, including community leaders, local officials, planners, and residents, to oversee the process. 
•    Timeline and budget: the consultant must provide a realistic timeline and budget that allocates resources for research, public engagement, presentations and documentation.
- Data collection and analysis
•    Conduct a community inventory: gather data on current conditions, including demographics, land use, infrastructure, natural resources, economic activity, housing, and public services. 
•    The consultant will collect appropriate GIS data for mapping purposes and be provided with access to all available town GIS data. 
•    Assess existing plans and policies: review zoning laws, comprehensive plans, and relevant policies to identify constraints and opportunities.
•    Perform swot analysis: evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting the community.
- Community engagement
•    Gather input from residents, businesses, and stakeholders to understand their priorities and vision for the community, through engagement sessions, with a proposed schedule included in the proposal.
•    Engage underrepresented groups: ensure inclusivity by reaching out to marginalized or less vocal community members. 
•    Facilitate visioning sessions: collaboratively define the long-term vision and key themes for the master plan. 
•    Bilingual or multilingual outreach: ensure bilingual or multilingual outreach efforts are established to effectively serve the community based on demographic composition. 
•    Public engagement summary report: at minimum a report should be provided at the midpoint of the project and again at the conclusion to summarize the results of all engagement efforts.
- Develop draft plan elements
•    Land use plan: the location of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and mixed-use development. 
•    Transportation and infrastructure plan: address mobility for all modes and abilities, public transportation, utilities, and connectivity needs. 
•    Resilience and environmental integration: include strategies for flood-resilient design, green infrastructure, and climate adaptation, particularly for waterfront areas, in alignment with our forthcoming climate action plan. 
•    Housing plan: propose strategies for diverse housing types. 
•    Economic development plan: identify strategies to support local businesses, attract investment, and foster job growth. these strategies should include redevelopment proposals for the existing commercial centers and corridors within each hub. 
•    Expanded market and capacity analysis – conduct a comprehensive market demand study for retail, hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and residential uses, plus property ownership mapping, zoning review, and assessment of economic development delivery mechanisms. 
•    Drawings, diagrams, maps and other graphic visualizations are expected for each element to facilitate community understanding. 
•    Deliverables: a conceptual design rendering and a phasing diagram must be developed for each hub and included in the final report. 
•    Branding coordination – requiring all design, placemaking, and signage concepts to align with the town’s branding framework.

- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: September 3, 2025