Please visit https://www.sjcindiana.com/bids.aspx for a complete copy of the RFP.

I. Invitation - St. Joseph County, Indiana invites qualified planning consultants or consulting teams to submit proposals to develop a new Comprehensive Plan for the unincorporated areas of the County.

II. Introduction - St. Joseph County, Indiana is soliciting proposals from a qualified planning consultant or consulting team to develop a new Comprehensive Plan for the unincorporated areas of the county. Located at the Indiana/Michigan state line in north-central Indiana, St. Joseph County has a population of approximately 271,826. The County is the economic and cultural hub of a multi-county, bi-state greater region known as Michiana. It is home to more than seven institutions of higher learning, including the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College, Bethel University, Indiana University South Bend, and more. Additionally, the county is home to the South Bend International Airport, the second busiest airport in Indiana, which offers air, rail and bus service.

In light of COVID-19 and the implications on public participation, as well as public interest in a number of economic development and planning initiatives, a robust and innovative public engagement strategy will be critical. The consultant will need to identify and utilize strategies to engage a diverse group of stakeholders in a meaningful and inclusive way.

III. Background - The last Comprehensive Plan for St. Joseph County was completed in 2002, following an extensive public participation process. The community has some level of familiarity with the Comprehensive Plan. It is often referred to or cited by members of the public during meetings; however, because the plan is nearly 20 years old, many elements have been accomplished or need to be re-evaluated to maintain the plan's relevancy. Examples of projects identified in the 2002 plan and implemented include the continued construction and enhancement of the Capital Avenue Corridor and development of the Blackthorn Area, both of which have impacted development and land use in areas of the county.

Additionally, new themes and challenges have emerged since the completion of the 2002 plan that were not fully considered or addressed in the plan, including the rerouting of US 31 and the development of the South Bend Four Winds Casino on the southwest edge of the City of South Bend. Notably, effective December 1, 2019, the City of South Bend withdrew from the Area Plan Commission and established its own Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. South Bend's departure from the APC has shifted the focus and workload of the department to the unincorporated areas of the county and member towns.

The Area Plan Commission (APC) of St. Joseph County serves the Towns of Lakeville, New Carlisle, North Liberty, Osceola and Roseland, as well as unincorporated St. Joseph County (see St. Joseph County, Indiana map on page 3). The APC does not serve the City of Mishawaka, City of South Bend, Town of Indian Village, or Town of Walkerton. Each community within the county features unique assets that make them distinct and contribute to the high quality of life in the region. Though the new Comprehensive Plan will include the unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County, it will need to consider the interconnectedness of the communities and how they interact with unincorporated St. Joseph County for the areas included in the Comprehensive Plan, including but not limited to land use, economic development, transportation, parks and open space, and more.

IV. Project Goals

• A unifying vision for unincorporated St. Joseph County that considers the unique assets of each city and town, and how they interact with unincorporated St. Joseph County
• A comprehensive community assessment that includes both quantitative and qualitative analysis
• A robust, multifaceted public participation strategy that engages diverse stakeholders in a meaningful and productive way and educates them on the role of the Comprehensive Plan
• Plan elements, grounded in data and public input, for the content areas noted in Section V. Scope of Work
• Overall goals and recommendations for St. Joseph County, as well as a workplan for Planning & Zoning Division of the Infrastructure, Planning & Growth Department, that are rooted in the community assessment and public input
• An implementation plan that will help guide decision-making at both a county and departmental level
• An overall plan structure that is innovative, user-friendly, and comprehensive in its scope

V. Reference Plans - St. Joseph County's Comprehensive Plan encompasses the unincorporated areas of the county. Though the Area Plan Commission serves five member towns, each of the towns have a Comprehensive Plan for their individual jurisdiction. Copies of these plans can be accessed on the county's website: https://sjcindiana.com/Landuseplans. The Comprehensive Plan will need to consider how member towns and non-member jurisdictions interact with St. Joseph County. The Comprehensive Plan for St. Joseph County should take into consideration long-range planning efforts of all jurisdictions within the County.

Additionally, the St. Joseph County Redevelopment Commission has completed a number of economic and redevelopment plans for special areas within the county. These plans can also be accessed on the county's website: http://sjcindiana.com/economicdevelopment.

Other integral reference plans include those completed by regional organizations such as Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), the region's metropolitan planning organization, and the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership. These plans can be accessed on these agencies' websites:

MACOG: http://www.macog.com/

South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership: https://southbendelkhart.org/

VI. Scope of Work - For the purpose of guiding the consultant in the development of a proposal, staff has drafted a preliminary scope of work based on identified needs and opportunities. The below scope of work is meant as a starting point to help guide the consultant in beginning to develop a proposed scope of work for the project. Flexibility is allowed in terms of project approach and plan contents. St. Joseph County welcomes an innovative and creative approach from the consultant in developing and finalizing the scope of work:

A. Plan Vision –A unifying vision for St. Joseph County that takes into consideration the unique assets of each city and town, and St. Joseph County's role as a hub in the greater Michiana region.

B. Community Assessment – A comprehensive community assessment including both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as an analysis of key issues, trends, community strengths, etc. Data to be included and analyzed includes but is not limited to demographical, economic, housing, environmental, etc. The community assessment should identify strengths and opportunities across multiple subject areas. As part of the Community Assessment or presented as a separate section, the new plan should include a review of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan and other relevant plans, outlining progress toward goals, objectives, initiatives, etc. identified in the plan. This review should note what items were fully, partially or not accomplished. The review should also consider how new projects, developments, and initiatives impacted progress toward or changed goals.

C. Public Engagement Strategy & Outreach Program – An innovative and robust public engagement strategy is integral to the plan's success, particularly given COVID-19's impact on the ability to conduct and obtain public input. A strategy to involve stakeholders of unincorporated St. Joseph County, as well as APC member towns and other jurisdictions within St. Joseph County and the Michiana region, will be critical. The public engagement strategy should be multifaceted to reach diverse populations through a variety of outreach methods. It should also include an educational component on the role of the Comprehensive Plan and Indiana planning and zoning laws.

D. Plan Elements – The Comprehensive Plan will include topics ranging from land use, infrastructure, economic development, and more. Though many topics will be raised during the planning process, staff has identified the following plan elements that are critical for SJC. These could be presented as separate plan elements or consolidated/reworked, as proposed by the consultant. In addition to narratives, the various plan element sections should include illustrative maps, tables, concept graphics, etc.

1. Land Use Strategy – A land use strategy that will serve as the roadmap for land use decisions in unincorporated St. Joseph County. In the new Comprehensive Plan, the County seeks to build consensus on the future growth and development of St. Joseph County. This could be addressed through current and future land use map(s) or another innovative tool(s) as proposed by the consultant to meet the needs of the County.
2. Infrastructure – An analysis of existing and proposed infrastructure assets within the County and how development can be guided to leverage availability of these assets. These include but are not limited to transportation infrastructure (motorized and non-motorized), water and sewer available in the unincorporated areas of the County, stormwater, power and energy, telecommunications, etc. Coordination with the St. Joseph County Regional Water and Sewer District, as well as other utility providers, will be an integral component of this element.
3. Economic Development – St. Joseph County government has increased economic development planning and project development since the completion of the 2002 plan. This plan element should include a review of all economic development/redevelopment plans completed by the County prior to and since 2002, as well as larger economic development regional initiatives led by organizations such as the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership, etc.
4. Housing – Mirroring national trends, there is a strong local demand both for more housing units and diverse housing types. Since the completion of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan, there has been significant residential development in the northeastern and other portions of the County, with many development projects currently underway. As more rezoning petitions have been filed and vacant land replatted for new residential subdivisions, there is a desire to consider what housing types and densities are appropriate in the County to address the need for additional housing units. This plan element should be grounded in analysis and take into consideration how demographical shifts affect needed housing types within the County.
5. Environmental Conditions – An analysis of environmental conditions within the County including but not limited to topography, soil conditions, wetlands, floodplains, etc., as well as the impact of these conditions on development, with special consideration given to areas within the County that are in high demand for development. This plan element should also consider how the County can promote and encourage environmental resiliency.
6. Greenspace and Parkland Development – Consideration of greenspace and parkland needs for the County, in part as a result of new residential development that has occurred since the completion of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan.
7. Mobility & Connectivity – Connectivity within the County's communities, as well as within the greater Michiana region and beyond. This includes both motorized and non-motorized connectivity.
8. Other Element(s) – In addition to the above, it is likely that other plan element(s) will be identified during the Comprehensive Plan planning process.

E. Implementation Strategy – An innovative implementation strategy that identifies next steps for recommendations. The implementation strategy should include next steps for countywide goals and a detailed workplan for the Planning & Zoning Division of the Infrastructure, Planning & Growth Department. Staff is looking for an innovative approach in the implementation strategy that meets the needs of the County and the department.

VII. Timeline - The following is the anticipated timeline for the selection process. The County reserves the right to make adjustments to the stated dates. The County reserves the right, as the interest of the County may require, of rejecting any or all responses and to waive any minor informality or irregularity in the responses received.

Release Request for Proposals: February 2, 2021

Deadline for Questions (4:30 pm): February 16, 2021

Responses to Questions Provided: February 23, 2021

Proposals Due to County Commissioners (10:00 am): March 16, 2021

Selection Committee to Review Proposals: March 17 – April 14, 2021

Finalist Interviews: April 20 – 24, 2021

Present Recommendation/Request Approval of Contract: May 5, 2021

Project Kickoff: Mid- to late May 2021

Once a consultant is selected (if the County does not reject all proposals), the anticipated timeline to complete the project and deliver the final plan is two years from the date of the executed contract. The consultant should demonstrate its ability to meet this timeline in the proposal and provide proposed benchmarks for the two-year planning process.

Please visit https://www.sjcindiana.com/bids.aspx for a complete copy of the RFP, including the Proposal Submission Requirements, Selection Process & Criteria, Questions, Amendments, Modifications & Withdrawals, RFP Disclosures.