In 2014 the City overhauled its Zoning Ordinance followed by an update to its Comprehensive Plan in 2016. Several goals and implementation strategies in the Comprehensive Plan recommended improving residential subdivision design and enhancing the physical appearance of the community through an update to certain codes and establishing quality design standards which encourages the protection and preservation of Yorkville's environmental assets.

Therefore, the United City of Yorkville is requesting proposals from qualified firms with considerable experience in land use planning, zoning, subdivision/site development and landscape architecture to modernize and consolidate the various existing City ordinances into a cohesive, single-reference, graphic-based document known as a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The ordinances requested for review include the following documents:

1. Zoning Ordinance (originally adopted 1974, amended 2014)
2. Subdivision Control Ordinance and Standard Specification for Improvements (adopted 2004)
3. Landscape Ordinance (adopted 2009)
4. Appearance Code (adopted 2005)

The City is currently preparing a Downtown Overlay District with streetscape master plan guidelines and Form Based Code regulations which will also be incorporated in the UDO.

A. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) should address or have the following components:

• Review and assess the land use regulations of the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Control Ordinance and Standard Specifications, Landscape Ordinance, Stormwater Management Ordinance, Appearance Code and all other relevant City Ordinances governing development.
• Identification of deficiencies and inconsistencies within these variance ordinances and proposer ecommendations prior to fully incorporating changes into the formal UDO draft document.
• Modernization of design standards, paying particular attention to areas related to:
  • Off-Street Parking – update the parking schedule with new contemporary concepts such as payment in lieu of parking, autonomous vehicle planning, designated vehicle charging stations, etc.
  • Green Infrastructure – integration of stormwater regulations for a spectrum of densities and incentivize best management practices.
  • Subdivision Control – utilization of engineering and planning best management practices for sustainable and smart growth development.
  • Landscape Ordinance and Park Development Standards
  • Sign Ordinance
  • Appearance Code
• Alignment of the UDO with the goals and action steps outlined in the Comprehensive Plan Update 2016.
• Incorporate the Downtown Overlay District with streetscape master plan guidelines and Form Based Code regulations into the UDO.
• Use of innovative methods to cooperatively develop regulations with City staff and consultants throughout the development of the UDO.
• Integration of codes into a user-friendly format so that all development related regulations are consolidated into a single document and easily cross-referenced.
• In addition to document format, the creation of an online web-based "smart code" version of the UDO with interactive site specific zoning analysis capabilities.
• Extensive use of graphics, illustrations, images, photographs, diagrams and tables for ease of use and reference. Clear and concise review criteria and guidelines.
• Creation of a simple, streamlined review process with flexibility to fast-track development proposals which exceed minimum design criteria.
• Public input documents, surveys, questionnaires, social media outreach and/or project website and overall community outreach.
• Presentation of the final draft of the Unified Development Ordinance at meetings and public hearings, which at a minimum may include two (2) Economic Development Committee meeting; two (2) Planning and Zoning Commission meetings; and one (1) City Council meeting.
• Recommendations for the managing and maintaining codification of the new Unified Development Ordinance following adoption.

B. DELIVERABLES

• The Consultant will prepare exhibits for citizens and elected official review as part of scheduled public presentations and meetings. These exhibits shall illustrate all major changes, revisions or additions proposed as part of the Unified Development Ordinance.
• The Consultant will be responsible for reproduction of twenty-five (25) final plan documents in hardcopy form.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing the draft and final documents in both electronic formats (Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF) allowing reproduction, revision, and web posting by City staff.
• The Consultant will format the document in 8½" x 11"(vertically oriented) format.
• All final graphics, illustrations, images, photographs, diagrams and tables shall be provided in JPEG, PNG, PDF and the source format used to create such illustrations will be provided to the City.
• Provide digital, web ready drafts of the UDO for easy posting on the City's website, project website and other social media platform.
• An online digital "smart code" UDO version with interactive site specific zoning analysis capable of rendering calculations for zoning criteria such as minimum parking requirements for a proposed land use, maximum lot coverage, required setbacks and transition yards, and volumetric limits (FAR, height, etc) based upon ESRI® ArcGIS™ base layer data provided by the City.
• Produce final copies for approval and adoption by the City Council.

C. PROJECT TIMELINE

The overall timeline for the completion of the Unified Development Ordinance(UDO) is anticipated to be eighteen (18) months, not including the adoption process. The entire process from authorization, commencement, and approval of the UDO should be completed within 24 months. As a submittal requirement, the applicant will provide a project schedule showing key task target dates, including public meeting and hearings with estimated task duration. Variations from the City's established timeline should be discussed in the RFP.

D. REVIEW OF SUBMISSIONS

Selection criteria are outlined below and will be used to evaluate proposals for invitation to interview/ presentation. This RFP does not commit the City to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in the preparations or submission of proposals. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP.

Selection of the successful proposal for interview/ presentation will be made based upon the following criteria:

• Responsiveness and proposed approach to work scope and project needs. Although City has identified a general nature of services to be provided, the consultant is given leeway toward the approach to the methodology to provide the requested services. Innovative strategies and creativity are desired.
• Demonstrated experience and technical competence in similar projects.
• Past record of performance of the firm with respect to such factors as working relationship with sub-consultants or peer consultants on the same project, control of costs, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules.
• Cost-effectiveness.
• Capacity and capability of the firm/team to perform the work in question, including specialized services.
• Quality of key personnel assigned: bios, qualifications.
• Understanding of local conditions related to the completion of the services.

E. SUBMISSION FORMAT

• Interested firms/consultants should submit four (4) paper copies and one (1) digital copy (CD) of the proposal requirements by the deadline of December 7, 2018.
• The hard copy proposals shall be submitted in a sealed envelope marked "REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE 2018," addressed to:

UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
800 GAME FARM ROAD
YORKVILLE, ILLINOIS 60560

• Proposals submitted by fax or e-mail will not be accepted. All submittals shall be retained by the City and will not be returned.

F. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE

A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Monday, November 19, 2018 beginning at 1:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 800 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, Illinois 60560. The purpose of the pre-proposal conference is to assist prospective consultants with questions related to the RFP scope of services and submittal requirements. Attendance at the pre-proposal conference is not mandatory.

Attendees must register by Friday, November 16, 2018 to Krysti J. Barksdale-Noble, Community Development Director via e-mail at knoble@yorkville.il.us

If no firms register, the meeting will not be held.