[Consultantservices] [Consultant Services] RFP posted Monday, March 10, 2008 11:20 AM

[Grace Williams]

AICP has adopted the following policy:

The AICP Commission requests that entities soliciting planning
consultants follow a two-part RFQ/RFP selection procedure. Click here to
read a description of such a two-part process in PAS Report 443,
Selecting and Retaining a Planning Consultant: RFPs, RFQs, Contracts,
and Project Management, by Eric Damian Kelly, FAICP. To view more
excerpts from the report, click here.

Please send RFPs & RFQs to websitefeedback at planning.org.

Request for Proposals - Consultant Services

Comprehensive Update of the Land Use & Development Regulations
The Town of Warren, Vermont 
Submittal Deadline: March 21, 2008

The Town of Warren, VT is requesting proposals from qualified planning
and zoning consultants for a comprehensive update of its zoning and
subdivision bylaws (i.e. Land Use and Development Regulations). 

Located at the southern end of the Mad River Valley, Warren is primarily
a rural town of approximately 1,700 year-round residents known for its
beautiful countryside, unique natural features, and historic Village
center. The Town has some areas of commercial development, but primary
land uses are large lot residences, agriculture, and open or forested
natural areas. As Warren is also home to the major portion of Sugarbush
Ski Resort, the housing stock is a mixture of year-round and seasonal
resort homes.

Town Plan and Zoning Status
Warren's current Land Use and Development Regulations underwent a major
re-write and were adopted in 2001 and then amended in 2002 (available at
www.warrenvt.org <http://www.warrenvt.org>  in the Planning Commission
section). The regulations incorporated significant new material such as
new zoning districts, new standards for review of subdivisions, and
others described in the 1999 version of the Town Plan. Over the past
year and a half the Planning Commission has been working on a revision
of the 1999 Town Plan, a draft of which was finalized on January 17,
2008 (available at www.warrenvt.org <http://www.warrenvt.org>  on the
Planning Commission section). This work is currently following the
prescribed process for adoption and could be adopted as early as May 1,
2008. The Town Plan update has outlined some land use issues that should
be considered for inclusion in the Land Use and Development Regulations,
but most of them are fairly minor in scope. For example, no new zoning
districts or significant changes to the subdivision process are
suggested. In addition, with the numerous recent changes made to Chapter
117 of the Vermont statutes, certain changes to the Land Use and
Development Regulations are required to be made by September 2008, while
others are required to be made by 2011, while still others are
discretionary.

Scope of Work 
The Scope of Work required for this project involves three major areas
of changes to the Land Use and Development Regulations:

*	The Land Use and Development Regulations need to be reviewed for
compliance with current Vermont land use law. Mandatory changes to
comply with recent Chapter 117 amendments must be made and discretionary
changes that can be made based on recent Chapter 117 amendments need to
be analyzed and considered. 
*	The revised Goals, Objectives and Implementation Strategies in
the new draft Town Plan needs to be reviewed to determine what areas
need to be evaluated for inclusion in the Land Use and Development
Regulations. Some areas are relatively minor, while others, such as
various potential considerations to support and facilitate affordable
housing, will require much more time to evaluate. 
*	The Planning Commission and the Development Review Board met on
July 19, 2004 to discuss some clarifications the DRB would like to see
in the Land Use and Development Regulations based on their experience
using the regulations since its adoption in March of 2001/2002. The
minutes of that meeting which outlined most of the areas for
consideration is available at www.warrenvt.org in the Planning
Commission section. 

The Consultant may recommend other changes that do not fall within the
three categories above.

Work Tasks and Timetable
Proposals should include a program of work tasks that will give the Town
the best possible product, and a realistic timetable for implementation.
If any or all of the changes to the Land Use and Development Regulations
are not to be implemented by the Selectboard, but will require a vote,
then all work should be completed with sufficient time to have a vote at
the Town Meeting in 2006. The general work tasks will be as outlined
below, but consultants are encouraged to outline alternative approaches.


*	Manage the project in conjunction with the Warren Planning
Commission. 
*	Develop a detailed timetable for the project including necessary
public hearings, Planning Commission, Selectboard or other meetings.
Consider implementation as one revision or in a phased approach. 
*	Identify and make recommendations on proposed changes and
alternatives to be incorporated into the revision of the Land Use and
Development Regulations as. For discretionary changes, identify the
implications of such changes, if not otherwise obvious. 
*	Recommend a process for obtaining public input. Attend any
necessary Planning Commission and other public forums or hearings.   
*	Prepare all draft revisions for review and deliberation by the
Planning Commission and for public review. Prepare a final draft for
adoption based on review and input. Prepare any other documents
necessary to complete the project. 

Administration and Direct Costs
The Town of Warren will be responsible for most of the administrative
costs of the project. The Town will arrange for meeting space, and will
cover any mailing, copying, and printing costs associated with public
notices, summaries, drafts, and final copies. The consultant will be
responsible for providing a copier-ready black and white copy and a
digital MS Word version of any materials to be distributed to the
Planning Commission or the general public. Proposed fees should
incorporate any other direct costs to the consultant, including travel.

Timeline for Proposals/Consultant Selection 

March 4, 2008

 

RFP will be distributed to consultants

March 21, 2008

 

Proposals must be received at Warren Town Hall

March 29-April 10, 2008

 

Consultant interviews, Municipal Building, Warren (evening)

April 11, 2008

 

Selection of consultant

April 12,2008

 

All proposes notified of decision

Proposal Submission and Evaluation 
Proposals must be received at Warren Town Hall no later than 4:30 PM on
Monday, March 21, 2008. Please send 1 original and 6 copies of your
proposal in a sealed envelope marked "Warren Zoning Proposal." Proposals
should be addressed to: 

Miron Malboeuf, Zoning Administrator, Town of Warren P .0. Box 337,
Warren, VT 05674, 802-496-2709 x28

Requirements for Proposal Submissions

*	A brief letter of interest and qualifications. 
*	Description of proposed approach to the project and the role and
experience of individuals working on project, plus a resume for each
individual. 
*	A proposed timetable for the project. 
*	Three references for consultant firm/team. 
*	Proposed fees and all other relevant costs. A "Not to Exceed"
bid price is required. 
*	Proposed contract for execution if selected. 

Proposals should indicate if the consultant firm includes or plans to
use Vermont legal counsel with expertise in Vermont land use law to
review and/or help develop the proposed changes to the Land Use and
Development Regulations.

Proposal Evaluation
The Town may elect to conduct interviews of some or all of the
consultant firms. Proposals will be evaluated for their responsiveness
to the RFP and the approach to the scope of work and work tasks outlined
above. While cost will be an important consideration in making a
selection, the successful consultant will not be chosen solely on the
basis of the lowest bid. The Town reserves the right to accept or reject
any proposal.

Questions 
Please direct any questions on the RFP and project and any requests for
other background materials to Miron Malboeuf, Zoning Administrator, Town
of Warren P .0. Box 337, Warren, VT 05674 802-496-2709 x28
zoning at warren.org <mailto:zoning at warren.org> . 

 

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