HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - P900 NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLANProposal #P-900
NORTHSIDE
NEIGHBORHOODS
PLAN
CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
C L A R 1 0 N
NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN i CITY OF FORT COLLINS
• 1997 City Plan and Proposed updates to the goals, policies, and Structure Plan;
City utilities plans;
Regional transportation plan;
• Housing Assessments and other demographic information;
• Neighborhood Resource Office documents and programs; and
Current development proposals.
Task 2 — Identify Issues and Needs
The consultant team will work with staff and the stakeholders to identify and understand issues and
neighborhood needs and prepare a brief summary of issues as identified in the Request for Proposals.
Task 3 —Assemble Current Data and Information and Develop Capacity Analysis
The consultant team will assemble physical data and statistical population and demographic data,
including current Census 2000 data plus more current building permit data. We will obtain digital
information from the city and develop a project base map in ArcView GIS to use for producing
physical neighborhood plans. The following information will appear in mapped form, to the extent
that data is available:
Existing and planned land use, ownership, and vacant land;
• Existing zoning;
• Natural areas and/or development constraints (e.g., streams, floodplains, wetlands, slopes,
soils and topography, vegetation, and wildlife habitat);
• Existing and proposed parks and open space;
• Infrastructure and service districts (i.e., water lines, sanitary sewer, stormwater drainage,
police, fire and EMS, schools, and community facilities); and
• Existing and Proposed transportation system (i.e., roads, bike lanes, railroads).
Analysis will address:
• Calculations of build out under existing zoning, given vacant lands.
• Physical development constraints.
Social needs, such as housing and community facilities.
Task 4 -- Advisory Committee Review
The consultant team will present initial issues and baseline conditions information to the Advisory
Committee and solicit feedback. The Advisory Committee may also help determine an appropriate
public venue for the information.
Task 5 -- Hold Neighborhood Workshop #1
We will work with city staff to design a public forum in a creative format to ensure that participants feel
that their time invested is well spent, as well as enjoyable. We will also begin to obtain feedback on
"what's working, what's not" in the neighborhoods and develop preliminary goals.
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN ! CIIY OF FORT COLLINS
4—Implementation Strategies
The consultant team will develop implementation strategies, such as recommendations for land use
zoning changes, particular projects, funding strategies, and partnerships, to support the goals and
physical neighborhood plan.
Task 1— Prepare Detailed Implementation Strategies
The consultant team will initially work with staff prepare a detailed set of strategies to implement the
plan's goals and physical plan. The implementation strategies will include a complete review and
analysis of public -initiated actions, including regulations (e.g., design standards and guidelines,
historic preservation, zoning, incentives, housing mix), programs (e.g., housing affordability),
Partnerships, and other activities. The strategies could also recommend actions that could be taken by
neighborhood groups, businesses, and other private organizations. The planning team will consider
Pros and cons of each strategy, and provide an estimate of the entail. resources and cost that each will
Task 2 -- Advisory Committee Review
The consultant team will present preliminary strategies to the advisory committee and continue to
develop implementation strategies with the committee.
Task 3 — Action Matrix
Next, incorporating suggestions from the Advisory Committee, the consultant team will revise the
strategies and prepare a summary matrix for the proposed strategies that lists an associated time -
frame and responsibilities to complete each strategy or action. We will work with the city's technical
team to determine rough costs, realistic responsibilities, and time -frames for actions.
5— Plan Document
Based upon all work products prepared during the preceding tasks, the consultant team will prepare a
draft plan document for review by city staff, neighborhood residents and landowners, Advisory
Committee, technical advisory committee members, and City Council and Planning Commission.
Task 1- Prepare Draft Northside Neighborhoods Plan
The consultant will integrate text, graphic elements, maps, and other elements into a draft plan. The
draft plan is anticipated to include elements such as:
Introduction and Issues;
Neighborhood Goals;
Future Land Use Plan;
Policies and Strategies for:
o Land Use;
o Circulation and Transportation;
o Neighborhood Design and Preservation;
o Economic Development;
o Neighborhood Services and Facilities; and
o Environmental Resources and Open Space.
Action Plan; and
Background (appendix):
13
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City of Fort Collins
Administrative Services
Purchasing Division
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ADDENDUM No. 1
SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
Description of Bid: P900 Northside Neighborhoods Plan
OPENING DATE: August 18, 2003 3:00 P.M.
To all prospective bidders under the specifications and contract documents described above, the
following changes are hereby made.
CURRENT: Proposed Schedule:
The City of Fort Collins intends to hold interviews on August 28, 2003
notifying vendors selected for interviews on August 22, 2003.
CHANGED TO: Proposed Schedule:
The City of Fort Collins intends to hold interviews on August 29, 2003
notifying vendors selected for interviews on August 22, 2003.
RECEIPT OF THIS ADDENDUM MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY A WRITTEN STATEMENT
ENCLOSED WITH THE BID/QUOTE STATING THAT THIS ADDENDUM HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
215 North Mason Street • 2nd Floor • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6775 • FAX (970) 221-6707
Clanon Associates LLC
114E Oak Street
Fort Collins, Colorado
80524
970.419.4740
Pax 970.493.2216
Planning, Zoning
Growth Management
MarketAnalysis
Real Estate Consulting
Appraisal
C L A R I O N
August 18, 2003
Mr. Pete Wray, AICP
City Planner and Project Manager
City of Fort Collins
215 North Mason Street, 2"d Floor
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Dear Mr. Wray and Members of the Selection Committee:
We are pleased to submit this response to your request for proposals to prepare the Northside Neighborhoods
Plan. This effort requires a professional team that has interdisciplinary expertise in land use planning, design,
transportation, facilitation and public participation, and implementation. We have assembled a team with
broad experience and expertise in assisting communities throughout the country in addressing similar efforts, so
that a breadth and depth of perspective can be brought to the effort. Each team member participating in this
project is uniquely qualified and has extensive experience and proven capabilities in providing creative solutions
to the type of planning, design, and implementation issues that must be addressed in this effort.
Team members have extensive experience in providing the following services to local governments:
• Community and neighborhood planning and design;
• Public participation and facilitation;
• Landscape architecture and urban design;
Transportation planning;
• Plan implementation; and
• Advanced mapping and graphic capabilities, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Clarion Associates, the lead firm, is a national land use consulting firm with extensive experience in preparing
neighborhood and community plans, downtown plans, planning strategies and development codes for
jurisdictions across the country. Vice President, Ben Herman, AICP has over twenty-five years of experience as a
city planner, and will serve as principal in charge for this effort. Lesli Kunkle Ellis, AICP, an associate with almost
ten years experience, will serve as project manager and project planner. Our firm has developed numerous
plans and implementation strategies throughout Colorado and the west. We have extensive skills in developing
action plans, design standards, and incentives to help bring a plan to fruition. Our tools and strategies focus on
guiding local governments and community groups through land use decisions to achieve their individual goals.
The Fort Collins office is convenient to the neighborhoods and city offices, which we believe will allow us to
provide a very high quality and efficient level of service to the city.
Denver Office: 170OBroadway Suite400 Denver,Colorado 80290 303.830,2890 Fax303.860.1809
Affiliate Offices: Cbicago • Pbiladetpbia • Cincinnati • Aspen1Snouanass Village
LSA Associates, Inc., a national transportation planning firm, will prepare the transportation analysis, plan, and
policies for the project. The transportation -planning element will examine all transportation modes, including
automobile, transit, bicycle and pedestrian and needs in the system. LSA is known for their innovative
approaches to transit and transit -oriented development for projects completed in Fort Collins. Everett Bacon will
be the principal team member for LSA.
Catalyst Consulting will provide professional facilitation services and public participation strategies. Barbara
Lewis will serve as the primary team member for Catalyst. Ms. Lewis is a public participate specialist who has
worked with this team on numerous occasions in other Colorado communities, including ethnically diverse
communities that require Spanish interpretation and translation. No plan will represent the values of the citizens
if the public is not involved in creating it, and we believe this plan provides opportunities in the neighborhood to
empower the residents and stakeholders. The Clarion team along with Catalyst consulting uses a variety of tools
and techniques to ensure that the public is first informed and then involved in all key decisions along the way.
We also anticipate working closely with the City's Neighborhood Resources office throughout the planning
process.
McCormick and Associates will provide expertise in affordable housing analysis and strategies for the Northside
Neighborhoods Plan. Kathy McCormick has 18 years of experience and has participated in similar efforts and
provided affordable housing strategies and techniques for several Colorado communities, including Boulder,
Denver, Longmont, Layfayette and others.
We believe that the Clarion team brings together an exceptional group of individuals with a deep understanding
and enthusiasm for neighborhood planning and land use issues and we are extremely excited about this project.
We urge you to review the attached materials and to call any of our past clients to confirm our qualifications.
Please let us know if you need additional information to make a decision. We are excited about the prospect of
working with you to prepare the Northside Neighborhoods Plan, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Benjamin A Herman, AICP
Vice President
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN I CITY OF FORT COLLINS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................
1
TheIssues............................................................................................................................
1
TheTeam............................................................................................................................
2
GeneralApproach................................................................................................................5
PROPOSED SCOPE OF SERVICES AND APPROACH..................................................................
9
I —Start up and Neighborhood Participation Process................................................................
9
2—Baseline Condition Analysis and Issues Identification.........................................................
10
3—Goals and Plan Alternatives............................................................................................
12
4—Implementation Strategies..............................................................................................
13
5— Plan Document............................................................................................................
13
PRELIMINARY PROJECT BUDGET...........................................................................................
15
PROJECTSCHEDULE............................................................................................................. 16
TEAMQUALIFICATIONS........................................................................................................ 17
KEYPERSONNEL RESUMES....................................................................................................28
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN I CITY OF FORT COLLINS
INTRODUCTION
The Issues
The Clarion Team understands that the key to developing a successful
and effective Northside Neighborhoods Plan will rest on our ability
engage the residents of the area; forge a common and shared vision
among ethnically diverse neighborhoods, businesses and landowners;
articulate clear strategies; and create partnerships that will last beyond
the planning process. The neighborhoods and stakeholders not only
have to be involved in shaping the plan; they must own it when it is
complete.
As described in the Request for Proposals (REP), planning for the
northside neighborhoods in Fort Collins will have a number of land
use, transportation, economic, and social issues to address, including:
• Validate the land uses identified in the Structure Plan and plan
for a finer -grain of connected and compatible land uses;
• Protect the neighborhoods' character, historic and
Ciry Plan Principles and
Policies\ 1997
Neighborhoods: As the dominant and
most important areas within our city,
neighborhoods will serve as the primary
building blocks.
Principle ISM 0: The Ciry will involve
citizens in the planning and decision -
making processes of government.
Principle AN-1: All new neighborhoods
will be integral parts of the broader
community structure.
environmental features;
• Seek ways to revitalize and improve the quality of development and housing in neighborhoods
while retaining the strong existing neighborhood structure;
• Analyze the transportation system needs and proposals, including regional and local
connections, pedestrian and trail links, and transit;
• Identify capacity limitations and needs for other infrastructure and community facilities; and
• Identify strategies for making neighborhoods safer.
These issues and others will be important to
address. We believe that the Clarion Team
members have a successful history in identifying
and addressing issues such as these, in the City
of Fort Collins and for other communities. Key
members of our team assisted the City in
development of the 1997 City of Fort Collins
Comprehensive Plan and are working on the
plan update, currently underway. We know the
City and its people well because we too live here
and work here. We also have experience and
cultural sensitivity working in ethnically diverse
communities and neighborhoods, including in
northern New Mexico and other Colorado
communities.
Commercial
(Fort Collins Strodum Pion/1997
Low Density Neighborhoods
Vacant Land (future residential)
Alta Vista
Andenonville/
San Cristo
Vacant Land (future industrial)
Buckingham
Commercial
We recognize that these neighborhoods are Planned Land Uses shown)
uniquely diverse as compared with many Fort Collins neighborhoods, and new strategic approaches
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN I CITY OF FORT COLLINS
Lesli Kunkle Ellis, AICP, is a planner and licensed landscape architect with almost ten years of
experience in land use and open space planning, neighborhood planning, and public
participation, with local government planning experience. Ms. Ellis has worked on neighborhood
and community planning projects in Washington state, New Mexico, and Colorado. Ms. Ellis will
serve as project manager and project planner, and will be responsible for day-to-day contact with
the City.
Darcie White is a planner and landscape architect with over five years of professional experience
in land use and transportation planning, GIS and urban design. Ms. White will serve as a project
planner and provides expertise in GIS mapping, land use planning, and urban design issues.
LSA ASSOCIATES, INC.
LSA Associates, Inc. is a diversified environmental, transportation, and community planning consulting
firm. LSA staff offers expertise in transportation planning, environmental planning and science,
community and land use planning, landscape architecture, and GIS. The Fort Collins LSA office
expertise includes Long Range City and Regional Transportation Planning, Pedestrian, Bicycle and
Transit Planning, Transportation Modeling, focusing on TransCAD, Micro Simulation, GIS,
Environmental Analysis, Air Quality and Noise. LSA will develop transportation analysis and plans.
Everett Bacon will serve as the primary LSA staff for the project. Mr. Everett is a senior
transportation planner with over 10 years of experience in regional transportation planning and
air quality analysis, including service with the Denver Regional Council of Governments and
North Central Texas Council of Governments. His experience includes regional, subarea, and
corridor transportation planning and modeling, environmental analysis of transportation projects,
transit alternatives analyses, modeling of mobile source emission inventories, and research and
application studies.
CATALYST CONSULTING
Catalyst Consulting will work with the team to develop culturally appropriate public participation
techniques and provide professional facilitation for advisory committee meetings and public events.
Barbara E. Lewis, Principal, has more than 20 years of experience in designing and facilitating
public involvement programs. She has considerable experience working for local governments
on issues related to land use and transportation planning. Barbara has designed and facilitated
as many as 20 advisory committee or task force processes. Her approach combines her strong
organizational skills and knowledge of planning with creative thinking and a strong intuitive
knowledge of group dynamics. Barbara is also a certified trainer for the International Association
of Public Participation and the co-author of the association's 2-day training on public involvement
techniques.
A former resident of Fort Collins, Barbara's previous work experience in Fort Collins includes
facilitating a process to refine the development review process. Barbara has been working with
Clarion Associates on the Longmont Comprehensive Plan Update. As part of that effort, Barbara
worked with several active members from the Latino community to design ways to best interest
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN i CITY OF FORT COLLINS
General Approach
Neighborhood planning is an approach successfully used to address specific improvements and issues
at a grass -roots level, empower neighborhood groups and residents, forge community partnerships,
and bring residents together to proactively create livable, safe, and attractive places to live and work.
We find that as our larger communities quickly change and grow, our neighborhoods provide respite
from the larger myriad of unconnected developments and land uses. Through neighborhood planning
we can preserve what is physically and culturally unique, and ensure that new developments are
connected and sensitive to what already exists.
lives of the residents and
Our team believes that this Fort Collins Northside Neighborhoods
project represents an opportunity for the existing neighborhoods
(Alta Vist, Buckingham, Andersonville, San Cristo, and the Meadows
subdivision) to collectively understand where they are today; define
the values and resources that they share and wish to retain into the
future; establish goals and provide recommendations for how to
accomplish the goals, and guide the forces that will influence future
development. The plan, in essence will direct the policy and financial
decisions of the city for the future, so it is important to the everyday
other stakeholders.
For the project to succeed the planning team must define an
effective public participation strategy for these neighborhoods that
are ethnically diverse and that face pressures of change —the Q ` �a"w`�° ,'°,; °
lNuo Yolk au, l.lku N.. ao �a �:w.M'
residents, tenants, businesses, and property owners have a huge
stake in the outcome of this process. We must incorporate ways to
provide meaningful input, keep the neighborhood groups informed Xs4 Otihith is May IM00)iAattl
and allow citizens to follow the process and participate easily. The
consultants must also have clear communication channels with city `
staff. Furthermore, we must approach planning tasks in a ..bl;..A
systematic, thorough manner, and be able to communicate the ML
analysis, alternatives, and strategies in a clear, understandable
fashion to all involved. As part of this, we use technology in ways
to understand the wealth of data that is available about the natural — «. —. ...m._....
environment, economy, and travel patterns, and to display complex
information simply. Finally, in the end the plan must develop clear
descriptions of neighborhood desires, physical plans that will provide a framework for zoning and land
use decisions, and policies and strategies that provide unambiguous direction to the city regarding
capital improvements, development patterns, programs, and funding.
The following is a discussion of some of the aspects of our approach to the project. We hope to have
more discussion of our approach with members of the selection committee.
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT
Early and continuous neighborhood participation in the planning process will be essential for this
project to succeed. The planning team must organize and manage the process to allow the diverse
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ESTABLISHING AN UNDERSTANDING OF BASELINE CONDITIONS
We must collect and synthesize baseline data in a way that is cohesive, purposeful, and
understandable to all involved. Early in the project, we would anticipate working with planning staff to
collect a significant amount of data from numerous sources and in various formats, including:
• Current and forecasted demographics and population data, including housing information;
• Land use GIS data, including vacant and developed lands and land capacity;
• Natural resources and environmental GIS data;
• Transportation conditions and forecasts, including street network, transit options, bicycle and
pedestrian facilities, proposed bypass routes.
In our experience, the data assembly and assessment is a critical
step to understand current conditions, opportunities, constraints,
and needs. Much of the remainder of the design and planning
process will rely on an understanding of and agreement as to the
validity of this initial information. For this reason, it is critical that
we collect, synthesize, and present information in a clear, cohesive,
and purposeful manner, so that residents and neighborhood
stakeholders understand it.
In the end, we view this task as focusing efforts on a few key
questions: What are the current conditions in the
neighborhood study area? What are the critical built and
natural "systems," and what is their importance and
condition? And finally, what can we glean from our
understanding of these conditions to evaluate the impact of
alternative future development patterns?
STATE -OF -THE ART GRAPHIC APPROACH
We use state-of-the-art GIS technology to measure
alternative development patterns and simulate changes to
the neighborhood planning area. We use leading -edge software and computer technology to display,
analyze, and measure effects of alternative development patterns that can help in discussion and
generating public interest and excitement. The technology allows us to present findings in a graphic
format that is easy to interpret and compare, flexible to allow us to operate in a dynamic fashion to
quickly frame and answer questions, and to make informed and collaborative decisions.
To the extent necessary, we propose using Community VIZ software's Scenario Constructor TM to create
and measure land use alternatives. The software is an extension of ArcView, and is fully integrated,
which allows modeling and measuring to occur simultaneously, and gives us the flexibility to input
data, compare different scenarios, and make changes, if necessary. The program allows us to
systematically evaluate alternatives and compare them to desired outcomes as measured by indicators
(e.g., number of new dwelling units, or number of acres of park land in the neighborhoods). As an
option, depending on how issues are addressed in the planning process, we also use a 3-D modeling
application of Community VIZ, 3-D Site Builder T", to "fly over" or "drive through" the planning area
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NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN I CITY OF FORT COLLINS
PROPOSED SCOPE OF SERVICES AND APPROACH
This section sets forth a proposed scope of services to complete the Northside Neighborhoods Plan.
Our work plan is generally based on the elements outlined in the Request for Proposal:
I. Project Start-up and Participation Strategy
II. Baseline Conditions
III. Design and Plan Development
IV. Implementation Strategy
V. Plan Document
It is important to emphasize that we are flexible on the specific work plan to develop the plan for the
neighborhoods. We would anticipate working closely with city planning staff and officials to craft an
approach that best suits the needs and desires of the neighborhoods.
—Start up and Neighborhood Participation Process
The neighborhood and stakeholder engagement in the plan is a critical component. The project must
be organized and managed to allow a highly diverse group of stakeholders convenient, creative, and
collaborative opportunities for participation to become empowered in the process. Creating "real"
opportunities for public involvement and building support for the study findings amongst
neighborhoods and advisory group members requires a multi -faceted effort. The following
summarizes the proposed approach to citizen participation for this project:
• Individual Neighborhood Meetings;
• Focus groups — breakfast meetings, round -table discussions;
• Citizen Advisory Committee;
• Technical Advisory Committee;
• Project newsletters, website information, bulletins; and
• Elected and Appointed Officials Briefings.
Each of these proposed efforts is described below in the methodology for this work element.
Task 1— Project Startup and Public Participation Strategy
As a first step in the process, the consultants will work with staff to firm up the work plan and public
involvement strategies and identify stakeholders. To result in a finished product that is embraced by
the neighborhoods, the public participation process should be also be somewhat flexible —to
anticipate that some interests may arise throughout the process. We would expect to define the
project team coordination and communication protocol; finalize the work plan and public
participation approach; and initiate public "kick-off" activities as part of the project start-up.
Task 2 — Neighborhood "Kick-off Events
The consulting team will work with staff to organize individual neighborhood events and discussions
(i.e., at least one for Alta Vista, Buckingham, Andersonville, San Cristo, and possibly the Meadows).
We believe these events should occur early and in conjunction with the city's Neighborhood Resources
Office, to build awareness of the plan update and to begin to determine which neighborhood leaders
would be interested in serving on an Advisory Committee. Our concept for these events is to obtain
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