Introduction and Objectives

This RFP is issued by the City of Billings for the purpose of obtaining information and pricing regarding the development of updated Zoning Regulations for the City of Billings and Yellowstone County. The City of Billings and Yellowstone County have budgeted $160,000 for this project to take place in 2018 and 2019. It is anticipated that the consultant(s) will work with the community to develop updated code(s) that may incorporate some form-based standards, updated conventional zoning standards, and standards that sustain and support walkable, mixed use neighborhoods in existing and future neighborhoods in Billings and some of the zoned areas of Yellowstone County.

Background

The City of Billings is the largest municipality in Montana and Yellowstone County is the most urban county in the state with combined total population of approximately 155,000 people. The City and Yellowstone County are governed by a City Council — consisting of both the Council and Mayor and the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners.

The City of Billings is zoned and an area surrounding the City is zoned in the County. The entire County is not zoned. The zoning is primarily Euclidean, with a few performance overlays and one hybrid district that has major form based elements. The commercial zoning districts have uses tied to the Standard Industrial Classification Codes, while there are 14 residential districts, many of which are almost identical aside from slight differences in density and single or multi-family allowances.

Recent adoption of two new Growth Policies for large portions of the City and County and recognition of the need for zoning regulations that reflect the needs and of the community support the launching of a major zoning code update.

Suppliers are expected to provide their best and most competitive proposal.