Harrodsburg – Mercer County Planning & Zoning Commission

Request for Proposal

Comprehensive Plan 2026

 

The Harrodsburg – Mercer County Planning & Zoning Commission (Planning Commission) is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to prepare a new Comprehensive Plan that will guide the City and County’s growth, development, and preservation priorities for the next 10-20 years. The current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2022.

The new Comprehensive Plan must reflect Harrodsburg and Mercer County’s unique character—balancing rural identity and farmland preservation with the realities of increased development interest and economic development opportunities.

The Planning Commission seeks a consultant team that can produce an actionable, data-driven, visually compelling plan with a clear implementation framework that supports decision-making by the City Commission, the Fiscal Court, the Planning Commission, Harrodsburg – Mercer County Industrial Development Authority and residents of the County.  The current budget for the following deliverables is $125,000.

 

COMMUNITY BACKGROUND

Harrodsburg is a home rule city in Mercer County, Kentucky.  The oldest permanent English American settlement west of the Alleghany Mountains, Harrodsburg was founded in 1774 by James Harrod and incorporated in 1836.

The county seat of Mercer County, Harrodsburg, has a population of approximately 9,500; Mercer County’s population is approximately 23,600.  Burgin (population approximately 1,000) is another incorporated city in Mercer County, though not currently included in the joint planning & zoning jurisdiction.   

Harrodsburg is approximately 75 miles east-southeast of Louisville and about 35 miles south-southwest of Lexington.  Harrodsburg is located approximately 30 miles from I-75 and 60 miles from I-65.

Mercer County’s identity is rooted in its agricultural heritage, open space, and small-town character.  Tourism continues to play a role in the local economy and the industrial presence keeps growth positive, though modest.  There is potential light and heavy industrial growth on the horizon and, with it, concern for affordable housing and adequate utility infrastructure.

 

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The Comprehensive Plan must:

• Establish a clear vision for the County’s long-term future, approximately 20-year outlook;
• Balance residential, commercial, and industrial growth in proportion to services and infrastructure;

 

 

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• Protect and integrate farmland, natural resources, and open space into future planning;
• Create a Future Land Use Plan and Annexation Framework that specifies where growth should occur—and where it should not;
• Address housing diversity, including attainable housing, missing-middle housing, planned unit developments, cluster developments, and large-lot rural-edge residential opportunities;
• Provide strategies for economic development throughout the County, retail positioning, and business attraction;
• Include a robust public engagement strategy, with clear documentation and transparent participation;
• Deliver an implementation matrix that assigns responsibilities, timelines, and funding tools;
• Identify Priority Growth Areas requiring accelerated planning attention prior to completion of the full Comprehensive Plan; and,
• Provide interim decision-making support guidance for near-term development pressures and edge-area planning influences with the possibility of incorporating the City of Burgin in the Comprehensive Plan.

 

 

SCOPE OF WORK

The following scope represents the minimum required elements.  Firms may provide recommended enhancements.  

 

Community Profile & Existing Conditions

• Demographics, growth trends, and projections
• Housing stock evaluation: unit types, lot sizes, affordability, gaps
• Economic and retail profile, employment trends
• Land use inventory and zoning analysis
• Transportation and mobility conditions
• Infrastructure capacity: water, sewer, utilities, stormwater
• Environmental constraints: floodplains, wetlands, watersheds
• Existing city/county policies, codes, and past planning documents

 

Public Engagement Strategy

Consultant shall design a customized, multi-platform engagement plan including:

• Public workshops (minimum 3);
• Community survey (online and paper);
• Stakeholders focus groups (developers, businesses, farmers/landowners, civic groups);
• Joint meetings with City Commission, Fiscal Court, Planning Commission (and, Board of Adjustment) and Industrial Development Authority;
• Ongoing digital engagement (website, social media graphics, online comment tools); and,          
• Summary report documenting engagement findings.

 

 

 

 

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Future Land Use Plan The plan must include:

• Growth management principles;
• Designated residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial and conservation areas;
• Large-lot residential areas for rural-edge living;
• Redevelopment opportunities;
• Agricultural preservation zones with tools (easements, cluster design, buffers);
• Development intensity, height, and density recommendations; and,
• Full-color, GIS-based Future Land Use Map.

 

Housing Plan

•  Gap analysis (ex. workforce housing, missing middle, rental share, large-lot demand) that can separate Harrodsburg from neighboring communities
• Strategies for diversifying housing stock
• Priority sites for housing development
• Policies that support attainable housing  

 

Economic Development Strategy

• Retail and business attraction strategy
• US 127 Bypass and North US 127 development strategy
• Identification of niche market opportunities
• Targeted commercial and industrial sites
• Shovel-ready development recommendations

 

Transportation and Mobility Plan

• Traffic and transportation network assessment
• Sidewalk, trail and pedestrian improvements
• Bike network and connectivity planning

 

Special Topics

• US 127 corridor
• Protection of US 68 corridor
• Development along Herrington Lake
• Karst Topography
• Planning & Zoning-approved Ordinance on Data Centers  
• Current Ordinance on Solar Farms

 

Implementation Matrix

A detailed, actionable matrix that includes:

• Strategies, responsible bodies (City Commission, Fiscal Court, Planning Commission, etc.);
• Timeline (1-3 years, 3-7 years, 7 + years);
• Estimated costs and function mechanisms;
• Regulatory and policy changes needed; and,
• Benchmarks for success and annual review procedures.

 

 

 

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Phased Work Program and Priority Area Interim Framework

Due to significant near-term growth pressures and pending development decisions affecting areas within and adjacent to the County, the Comprehensive Plan shall be structured as a phased work program.

 

Firms shall structure their scope and timeline to include a Phase 1 (Interim Priority Area Framework).

 

STRATEGIC INTENT & RATIONALE

The Planning Commission recognizes that traditional comprehensive planning timelines may not align with the pace of development and annexation pressures currently affecting the County.  The phased structure is intended to provide early governance clarity, reduce reactive decision making, and strengthen edge-area planning coordination while maintaining full comprehensive planning integrity.

 

Phase 1 – Priority Area Interim Framework (60-90 days)

1. Identification and mapping of Planning Commission-designated priority areas

2. Characteristics of unique development inside specific zoning designations

3. Interim land use and development intensity guidance

4. Annexation and edge-area planning considerations

5. Near-term implementation actions (0-3 years)

 

Deliverables

1. Phase 1 - Interim Priority Area Framework Report (GIS + PDF)

2. Existing Conditions Report

3. Public Engagement Summary Report

4. Draft & Final Future Land Use Map (GIS + PDF)

5. Draft & Final Comprehensive Plan

6. Editable GIS files, graphics, and all raw data

7. Implementation Matrix

8. Executive Summary

9. Presentation and materials for all public meetings

 

Proposed Selection Schedule

The Planning Commission anticipates the following general schedule for its selection process.  The Planning Commission reserves the right to change this schedule as needed.

 

◆      Request for Proposal (RFP) Advertised — The week of 3 August 2026

◆      Submittal Due Date — 2 October 2026 @ 4 P.M. EDT

◆      Interviews of Consultants (as needed) — 13 October through 16 October 2026

◆      Selection Evaluation — week of 19 October 2026

◆      Consultant Selection & Approval — 5 November 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals shall include the following information at minimum. Incomplete proposals may be rejected without consideration by the Planning Commission.  Proposals shall be submitted electronically.

1. Cover letter

2. Technical experience with similar comprehensive plans

3. Proposed scope of services

4. Organization/Team profile and qualifications

5. Key personnel experience (specifically engagement lead & project manager)

6. Itemized cost proposal & optional tasks

7. Project timeline

8. Examples of similar work (links to past project deliverables)

9. References (3 municipal references)

 

Submittal Instructions

Respondents should email Storrie Thompson at planning@mercerky.com with their proposal. Proposals must be received by 1600 (4:00 P.M.) EDT on 02 October 2026.

 

Questions regarding the RFP may be submitted by writing to:

Harrodsburg – Mercer Planning & Zoning Commission

Attn: Storrie Thompson, Administrative Assistant - Comprehensive Plan RFP

109 Short Street

Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Or by e-mail to: planning@mercerky.com

 

 

 

Evaluation Criteria & Scoring

Complete submittals will be evaluated by the Planning Commission using the following criteria and scoring:

Criteria — Max Points

• Experience in the type of work to be performed — 20
• Qualifications and experience of key personnel — 20
• Quality of submittal — 10
• Familiarity with the general region — 20
• Ability to deliver project in a timely manner — 10
• Client References & Interviews — 20

                Maximum Total Points — 100

 

Selection

Upon review of the responses to the RFP, the Planning Commission subcommittee and staff will select a consultant to enter into contract negotiations. Upon completion of contract negotiations with Planning Commission staff, the staff will present the selection to the Planning Commission at

 

 

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a public meeting of the Commission for consideration of the recommended consultant selection and respective contract for the project.

 

If for any reason the Planning Commission and the recommended consultant selection are unable to reach agreement on a negotiated contract or the Board of Commissioners shall not approve the recommendation and respective contract, the Planning Commission may then negotiate with the next most qualified consultant, terminate the RFP process, or may start over with the RFP process.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Website:                              https://mercercounty.ky.gov

Contact Email:                 planning@mercerky.com