Blakely Comprehensive Plan

City of Blakely Comprehensive Plan

Introduction

The City of Blakely, Georgia is soliciting proposals from qualified planning consultants to prepare a Comprehensive Plan update that will guide the City's growth, land use, infrastructure investment, and economic development over a 20-year planning horizon.

Blakely is entering a pivotal moment in its history. The construction of a 1-gigawatt data center campus within the community is expected to generate significant economic activity and development pressure across the region. This investment presents both challenges and opportunities - including increased demand for housing, infrastructure, workforce development, and services.

The City seeks a forward-looking plan that not only manages growth, but also leverages this moment to strengthen Blakely's long-term economic vitality. The Comprehensive Plan should identify strategies to harness major investments, support local entrepreneurship, build community wealth, and preserve the character and quality of life that define Blakely.

The planning process should engage local leaders, businesses, institutions, and residents in identifying the community's unique assets - including its agricultural economy, natural resources, strategic location, workforce potential, and cultural heritage - and developing strategies to translate those assets into new opportunities for economic growth and prosperity.

The City seeks a plan that is visionary yet practical, data-driven yet community-centered, and focused on implementation.

Project Background

Blakely is a rural community in southwest Georgia serving as the county seat of Early County. The City seeks to proactively manage development pressures resulting from major industrial investment while ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability and operational readiness.

Key planning drivers include:

* Large-scale data center development (1 GW campus)

* Anticipated population and workforce growth

* Industrial and logistics development pressure

* Infrastructure capacity and utility demand

* Housing availability and affordability

* Municipal service delivery capacity

* Fiscal and tax base impacts

* Environmental and natural resource protection

* Organizational readiness for rapid growth

The Comprehensive Plan must comply with Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) planning standards and requirements

Project Objectives

* Establish a clear long-term vision for community growth and prosperity

* Evaluate the impacts and opportunities associated with large-scale industrial and data center investment

* Guide land use, infrastructure investment, and development decisions

* Identify strategies to strengthen and diversify the local economy

* Support locally rooted entrepreneurship and small business growth

* Identify opportunities to leverage Blakely's unique assets for economic development

Address housing supply, affordability, and workforce housing needs

Improve municipal organizational capacity

* Protect environmental, agricultural, and cultural resources

* Promote resilient and sustainable infrastructure systems

* Identify strategies for building long-term local wealth and economic opportunity for residents

Provide clear implementation strategies, priorities, and policy tools

Scope of Services

The consultant shall provide the following services at minimum.

Existing Conditions Analysis

* Population and demographic trends

* Economic and employment analysis

* Land use inventory and development patterns

* Housing market analysis

* Transportation systems assessment

* Water, sewer, stormwater, and utilities capacity analysis

* Fiscal and tax base analysis

* Environmental constraints and natural resources

* Community facilities and services

* Growth projections related to data center development

Data Center Impact Assessment

* Infrastructure demand projections (utilities, roads, services)

* Land use and development pressure modeling

* Workforce and housing demand implications

* Fiscal impacts and revenue opportunities

* Compatibility and buffering considerations

* Energy and water use implications

* Long-term growth scenarios

Community Engagement

* Stakeholder interviews

* Public meetings and workshops

* Online engagement tools

* Surveys and outreach to residents and businesses

* Coordination with local and regional agencies

Vision and Growth Strategy

* Community vision statement

* Future development framework

* Growth scenarios and alternatives

* Future land use map

* Development policies and strategies

Infrastructure and Capital Planning

* Utility capacity planning recommendations

* Transportation improvements

* Capital investment priorities

* Phasing and growth management tools

Implementation Strategy

* Action plan with timelines

* Policy recommendations

* Zoning and regulatory updates

* Monitoring framework and performance metrics

Plan Adoption Support

* Draft document preparation

* Public hearing support

* Final plan revisions

* Coordination with Georgia DCA requirements

Municipal Organizational and Capacity Assessment

The consultant shall evaluate the City's organizational structure and operational capacity to manage rapid growth.

Assessment shall include:

* Organizational structure and staffing levels

* Planning and development review processes

* Permitting and inspection procedures

* Capital project management capacity

* Utility system management capacity

* Interdepartmental coordination

* Service delivery performance

* Staffing needs projections

* Training and professional development needs

* Technology and data systems

* Governance and decision-making processes

* Recommendations for organizational restructuring or staffing expansion

* Implementation roadmap for capacity building

Deliverables

* Project work plan and schedule

* Existing conditions report

* Community engagement summary

* Growth and development scenarios

* Draft Comprehensive Plan

* Final Comprehensive Plan

* Future Land Use Map (GIS format)

* Implementation matrix

* Presentation materials

All deliverables must be provided in digital format and editable files.

Consultant Qualifications

Proposals should demonstrate:

* Experience preparing municipal comprehensive plans

* Experience with rapidly growing or infrastructure- intensive communities

* Experience evaluating large industrial or data center development impacts

* Knowledge of Georgia planning requirements

* Public engagement expertise

* Relevant project examples and references

* Qualifications of project team

Proposal Requirements

Submissions must include:

* Cover letter

* Firm profile and qualifications

* Project approach and methodology

* Work plan and timeline

* Project team and roles

* Relevant experience

* References

* Fee proposal

* Example work products

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

* Understanding of project needs

* Experience and qualifications

* Technical approach

* Project team

* Cost effectiveness

* Ability to meet schedule

* Quality of past work

Project Schedule

* RFP Release Date: [05/11/2026]

* Questions Due: [06/15/2026]

* Proposal Submission Deadline: [07/15/2026]

* Consultant Selection: [08/04/2026]

* Project Start: [09/01/2026]

* Anticipated Completion: [09/01/2027]

Submission Instructions

Proposals shall be submitted to:

City of Blakely

82 Court Square

PO Box 350

C/O Melinda Crook

Blakely, Ga 39823

Email melinda.crook@cityofblakely.org

Submissions should be in PDF format and submitted electronically. Additional hard copies may be submitted if desired.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Suggested Evaluation Process

Phase 1 - Initial Review

City staff evaluates responsiveness and completeness.

Phase 2 - Technical Review

Evaluation committee independently scores proposals.

Phase 3 - Interviews

Top-ranked firms may be invited for interviews and presentations.

Phase 4 - Final Selection

City negotiates scope and fee with highest-ranked proposer.

Appendix B

Georgia Procurement and Legal Language

Equal Opportunity

The City of Blakely is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages participation by disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises.

Compliance With Laws

The selected consultant shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and licensing requirements.

Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 13-10-91, the successful proposer shall provide documentation verifying participation in the federal E-Verify program prior to execution of any contract.

Public Records

All materials submitted in response to this RFP shall become property of the City of Blakely and shall be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act.

Conflict of Interest

Consultants shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including relationships with developers, utility providers, contractors, or affiliated entities associated with the data center project or related developments.

Reservation of Rights

The City reserves the right to:

Reject any or all proposals

Waive technicalities or informalities

Request clarification or additional information

Negotiate changes in scope or fees

Cancel or reissue the RFP

Award the contract in the best interests of the City

Insurance Requirements

The selected consultant shall maintain at minimum:

Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000

Professional Liability: $1,000,000

Workers Compensation: Statutory Limits

Automobile Liability: $1,000,000

Certificates of insurance shall be provided prior to contract execution.

Indemnification

The consultant shall indemnify and hold harmless the City of Blakely, its officers, officials, employees, and agents from claims arising from negligent acts, errors, or omissions associated with the consultant's services.

Ownership of Work Product

All reports, maps, studies, GIS data, renderings, and supporting materials prepared under this contract shall become property of the City of Blakely.

Non-Collusion Affidavit

By submitting a proposal, the proposer certifies that the proposal is made without prior understanding, agreement, or connection with any corporation, firm, or person submitting a proposal for the same services.