Introduction

The City of Bowling Green, Ohio, is seeking proposals from firms with zoning and planning expertise to work with the Planning Department, the Planning Commission, elected officials, City administrative staff, and the public to identify specific updates to the Subdivision Regulations that align with community planning goals, the recently updated Zoning Code, best land use management practices, sustainability practices, and provide a clear and updated user-friendly format.

Community Profile

The City of Bowling Green, home of Bowling Green State University and the County seat, is located in the northwest region of Ohio in Wood County and is about twenty (20) miles south of Toledo. The community encompasses approximately 13 square miles and has a population of 30,808 based on 2020 Census data. Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1901. With the discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green experienced a boom to its economy. The wealth can still be seen in the downtown storefronts, and along Wooster Street, where many of the oldest and largest homes were built.

The City's form of government, as described in its Charter, is known as the "Mayor-Administrator Plan" and is a home-rule city. The City has municipally-provided utility services, full-time police and fire services (both nationally accredited), provides numerous City services, has a local public transportation system (B.G. Transit), and several active and passive parks and recreational opportunities. The City has a diverse industrial base, with a mix of commercial at the northern, eastern and southern edges of the City limits, along with a vibrant, historic downtown. The City is home to Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm and the largest solar installation in Ohio, in addition to the nationally-known Black Swamp Arts Festival and National Tractor Pulling Championships. Bowling Green has been twice named "Best Hometown" by Ohio Magazine.

Background

In 2014, the City updated the Future Land Use Section of the Comprehensive Plan. The new Future Land Use Plan (FLUP) was developed with a diverse Steering Committee, including representation Bowling Green State University officials and students, and led by a planning firm. The plan adopted the "7 Bowling Green Principles" as a guiding tool for evaluating development requests, along with encouraging redevelopment and revitalization of the urban core. The plan emphasizes the opportunity to attract strong households and an emphasis on connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclist.

Since the FLUP was developed, the City hired a planning firm to create a neighborhood revitalization plan, which was completed in 2018. The plan, titled the Community Action Plan, recommends various Zoning Code updates to align with community goals for neighborhood improvements.

Also, the City and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) hired a firm to analyze potential development along the major corridor (East Wooster Street) linking Interstate 75 to downtown, which encompasses BGSU and the main gateway into the City. These recommendations, just presented in March, also recommend several Zoning Code updates to help foster quality development along the East Wooster Street Corridor.

The Zoning Code has been re-written and was approved by City Council on June 12, 2023 and become effective on July 12, 2023. The Subdivision Regulations need updated to reflect some of the new minimum lot sizes and development requirements of the new Zoning Code.

It is recommended firms review the City's planning documents on the City website in preparation of the proposals;

Comprehensive Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/273/Comprehensive-Plan-Information

Community Action Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/547/Community-Action-Plan-PDF?bidId

East Wooster Development Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/1248/White-Paper-February-2019-PDF

Zoning Code Update information:
https://www.bgohio.org/666/Zoning-Code-Update

Scope of Work

The City of Bowling Green is requesting interested and qualified firms to submit proposals for professional services to develop updates to the Subdivision Regulations, as recommended by the aforementioned planning documents and in working closely with City staff. The firm chosen will work primarily with the Planning Department, who will serve as the point of contact throughout the project and will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the proposed updates to the Subdivision Regulations, pursuant to legislative requirements. Meetings with City Administrative staff, the Planning Commission and elected officials will be critical. There would likely be a core steering committee for the update.

The following is a list of key components of the update to the City's Subdivision Regulations (Section 151 of the Codified Ordinances) that are expected to be reviewed for consideration of possible updates:

• Evaluating and performing an in-depth analysis of the existing Subdivision Regulations, including staff feedback for desired changes.
• Modernizing regulations to eliminate outdated codes, conflicts, inconsistencies, and gaps in regulations
• Reorganizing to make it easier to interpret and incorporate diagrams, graphics, and illustrations to help enhance understanding.
• Creating a user-friendly document that is easier to administer by staff and understood by residents, developers, and property owners.
• Aligning with recently adopted Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan documents
• Connecting new subdivisions to the City's Complete Streets policy adopted in 2016 for implementation
• Evaluating current infrastructure requirements for flexible options (i.e.: curbs vs. no curbs)
• Evaluating the use of more sustainable infrastructure options
• Evaluating allowing the use of flexible types of new housing subdivisions to accommodate consumer interest and housing trends (in tandem with recently adopted Zoning Code)
• Researching possibility of fees related to the impact of services
• Ensuring the regulations meet local and state laws related to land use and property splits.
• Developing an engagement strategy with various stakeholders, the public, and internal stakeholders.

Deliverables

The selected firm will prepare the Subdivision Regulations in a format agreed upon by the City. Throughout the course of identifying proposed updates, the firm will provide draft versions at various stages throughout the project period. The specific deliverables will be subject to further discussion, such as a proposed timeline and meetings with a core committee.

Submittal Requirements

The City is requesting the following information for the submittal of the proposal:

1. Cover Letter: One page letter that includes the business/consultant name, address, phone number, name and e-mail for the primary contact. If the proposal will include other partners, please identify the name(s) and contact information.
2. Proposed Approach: Provide a summary of the consultant's understand of the project and a proposed work plan that includes specific approaches and methods for achieving the goals of this project. The work plan should include major task and time required to complete, deliverables for each task, outreach and engagement approaches, required meetings, communication methods, City responsibilities, and a projected schedule from start to completion.
3. Qualifications and Experience: Provide the following information to demonstration qualifications of the consultant and personnel
   1. Consultant background (and any subcontractors) - Statement of qualifications, company history, size of the firm, description of services provided by the organization, experience and history providing similar services related to preparing subdivision regulation, list of comparable projects the company has worked on in the last 5 years, and a statement verifying firm's workload and capacity to complete the project within the timeframe provided by the firm.
   2. Identify the project team (included subcontractors) and provide the following information – Name and title of the individual who will lead and mange the project, name and title of key staff who would be assigned to the project, resumes for proposed lead and associated team members involved. Include educational background, years of professional experience in respective field, certifications, and recent similar projects worked on and the role in said projects.
4. Cost Proposal: Provide a "not to exceed" cost for completion of the project. This can be listed in the proposed approach, if desired.
5. Examples: Provide at least 3 examples of subdivision regulation work samples recently completely (within last 10 years) by the firm that exhibit the team's ability to successfully complete the proposed project. Include location, date, scope, contract amount, project team, and client contact information for each work example. Project samples can be digital.
6. References: Provide at least 3 references of municipal clients where similar professional services were recently provide by the firm. Include the name, email, and phone number of each reference listed.
7. Submission Packet: The entire response needs to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked "City of Bowling Green, Ohio, Subdivision Regulations Update" on the front and one digital copy on a thumb drive.
8. Deadline: Responses to this RFP are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025 and need to be delivered to:

Lori Tretter, Municipal Administrator
City of Bowling Green
305 North Main Street
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

Questions regarding the RFP may be addressed to Heather Sayler, Planning Director, at (419) 354-6218 or hsayler@bgohio.org.

Selection Process

A selection committee will review all proposals. In evaluating proposals, the committee will consider all factors in response to the proposals, including: price, consultant qualifications and *experience, project team, response to this request, schedule for completion, and references.

*The City will be looking in particular for experience with codes in small to mid-sized university communities and extensive experience with writing recent Subdivision Regulations.

The City is not obligated to accept the lowest priced proposal, but will make an award in the best interest of the project. Following the evaluation, the City of Bowling Green will enter into contract negotiations with the most highly qualified firm.