Summary of Specifications:
The city’s Master Plan was adopted in 2008, and revisions of the plan may be necessary. Staff is looking for a consultant to review the existing Master Plan, update all outdated information (census information, statistics, economic development information, etc.) and revise the plan, as necessary, to stay up to date with current applicable planning and economic development trends and patterns. Secondly, the city is looking to re-write the zoning ordinance to create a concise, organized, and easy to understand document. Much of the information in the existing zoning ordinance will be kept, but staff is looking to add new content relevant to current issues and delete old content that has become obsolete. Some of the new content the city is looking to address includes provisions for food trucks and mobile vending, provisions for the deconstruction of a building in place of full demolition, and provisions for disaster recovery and post-disaster planning. Staff is also receptive to any consultant proposals for additional topics to include both in the Master Plan and the zoning ordinance. In addition, the existing digitized zoning map is out of date. Staff would like to update the zoning map to include all rezonings since 2004, and staff would like proposals on a digital map that would be maintained and updated regularly in-house after conclusion of this project. The rezoning information will need to be obtained from staff, and it is only available currently from meeting minutes of the Planning Commission. Also, all relevant updates to the zoning ordinance as they relate to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act will need to be included. Finally, the city is required by HUD to have an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Report on file at all times as we are a CDBG entitlement community. The city is requesting that a consultant who has extensive experience with CDBG programs, and more specifically, AI report writing, submit examples of AI work completed in the past. Only consultants with extensive experience with the CDBG and Fair Housing programs will be considered. Please note that HUD will be releasing changes and updates to their Affordable Housing regulations shortly, and new regulations will need to be satisfied. Please take into consideration the timing of the release of the updated HUD information into your proposals.
