The vendor is required to provide consultant to assist in developing an overall vision and design guidelines for the country route 1 corridor economic development zone (EDZ) and a portion of the city interchange EDZ to accommodate targeted businesses, while creating high-quality places with a cohesive appearance through new development on vacant parcels and the redevelopment of existing sites.
- Work on this project is anticipated to start in July 2025 with a draft plan prepared for planning commission review by February 1, 2026.
- The consultant shall provide design guidelines and planning recommendations, such as an overlay district, that would be used to evaluate zoning requests and/or develop land use regulations that ensure new development and redevelopment reflects the community’s vision for this area.
- Plan recommendations should include the following:
• Design standards: develop design standards that could be implemented to help create cohesive development along the corridor, with these standards including specific recommendations regarding streetscape improvements (signage, lighting, street tree species, etc.) that could be used to create a cohesive streetscape.
• Redevelopment programs and policies: identify policies and programs that could encourage the redevelopment of older sites along the corridor, with key sites including the former green top site and the former gas station on kings’ acres road at interstate 95.
• List of targeted industries: identify industries best suited for the study area, based upon economic conditions, available infrastructure, and community feedback.
• Conceptual plans: develop a conceptual plan for 2 – 3 areas along the corridor that have the greatest potential for redevelopment, providing guidance on how sites could be designed to create cohesive development.
• Public improvements: identify public improvements needed to support new development or redevelopment and provide planning-level cost estimates for projects that could be implemented by county and developers, including roadway improvements, pedestrian/bicycle improvements (area identified as a pedestrian and bicycle capital investment focus area), parks and recreation facilities, and public utilities
• Revisions to overlay districts: identify possible revisions to the applicable overlay districts to implement study recommendations.
- County planning staff (project lead) project tasks and team responsibilities will be:
• Coordinating with other departments (economic development, public utilities, public works, parks and recreation, etc.) regarding economic development potential and infrastructure needs.
• Preparing for and managing community engagement events (at least two rounds of engagement).
- Consultant shall provide technical expertise and graphic design.
- Project tasks and team responsibilities shall include, but not limited to:
• Collecting data regarding existing conditions through GIS data and site visits, including assessments of existing land uses, environmental resources and constraints, historic and cultural resources, and infrastructure, as well as a review of economic development studies that are completed and/or are underway.
• Preparing conceptual site layout for at least two sites (tentative interior road network, setbacks, parking location, building orientation, pedestrian accommodations, potential building heights, etc.) with associated building and development renderings, which will demonstrate how design-based recommendations can be applied within the study area.
• Identifying public improvements needed to support new development or redevelopment and providing planning-level cost estimates for projects that could be implemented by county and/or developers, including roadway improvements, pedestrian/bicycle improvements, parks/recreation facilities, and public utilities.
• Identify key transportation improvements to improve capacity and safety, which may include new secondary roadways/connections and/or intersection improvements.
• Developing outreach materials (posters, letters, PowerPoints, flyers, etc.) and preparing online surveys to support at least two rounds of public engagement and public hearings before the planning commission and board of supervisors.
• Identifying policies, programs, and other tools that can be implemented to realize the plan’s vision, identifying general costs and ease of implementation.
• Preparing the final plan text and creating a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing layout (graphic design) for the plan that reflects the color and style of the envision city comprehensive plan and includes maps and graphics illustrating existing conditions and plan recommendations.
- Optional Pre-Proposal Conference Date: May 13, 2025