Comprehensive Plan Update

The full RFP document and requirements for submitting a proposal can be found on the City's website: https://cityofsugarhill.com/government/city-announcements/bids-rfps/

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The City of Sugar Hill seeks to provide a rewrite of the existing 2019 Comprehensive Plan, which is due for updating on or before 2/28/2024 as outlined by state law. The planning horizon will coincide with the city's centennial anniversary in 2039. As a result, the theme of the plan and associated long range planning expectations will be framed by this anniversary. As opposed to a traditional major update, the city anticipates that a complete reframing of the Comprehensive Plan will provide the best possible guide to future growth. The plan will highlight the diverse nature of Sugar Hill and will strive to include as many voices as possible. The city anticipates engaging directly with the community in multiple ways, including but not limited to group discussions, one-on-one discussions, and outreach at local venues.

It is anticipated that work will begin in early 2023 and the finished product will be adopted by the City in 2024.

BACKGROUND

Located in the northwestern corner of Gwinnett County, the City of Sugar Hill encompasses approximately 10.6 square miles and has a population of nearly 26,000. A pattern of heavy suburban residential growth has persisted for several decades; however, in recent years, a vibrant downtown community has taken shape. While managing rapid downtown development over the last six years, the city has worked through several major planning projects including a housing study in 2020, comprehensive plan update in 2019, a downtown master plan in 2018, a greenway master plan in 2016 and other trail plans and corridor studies.

Strong planning, strategic public investment and competent visionary leadership have inspired confidence with the private sector and led to strong investment in a wide range of the real estate market. Since adoption of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, many significant projects have been planned, undertaken, or are already completed. This includes hundreds of dwelling units in mixed-typology residential developments built to meet the housing needs of younger and older generations alike, including assisted-living, grocery, general retail, restaurants, medical office, and other mixed-use projects.

The project team will build a comprehensive plan from the ground up which will foster a productive community-wide dialogue, methodically evaluate the successes, and misses from previous plans, and articulate an imaginative common vision for the future. As we organize with the community to accomplish the work ahead of us, the planning team will strive to provide opportunities for our diverse community voices to connect in the conversation. The project team is expected to prepare a plan which satisfies Georgia Department of Community Affairs standards for local comprehensive planning and assist the city in adopting the plan in conformance with the requirements to maintain qualified local government status by our local planning due date in February 2024.

SCOPE OF WORK

I. General: The work to be accomplished primarily involves organizing community outreach efforts and interpreting the data provided by shareholders in the city.

II. Area covered: All the necessary services provided in this contract will support the Comprehensive Plan update for the City of Sugar Hill.

III. Goal: The City of Sugar Hill seeks to provide a rewrite of the existing 2019 Comprehensive Plan, which is due for updating on or before 2/28/2024 as outlined by state law. The planning horizon will coincide with the city's centennial anniversary in 2039. As a result, the theme of the plan and associated long range planning expectations will be framed by this anniversary. As opposed to a traditional major update, the city anticipates that a complete reframing of the Comprehensive Plan will provide the best possible guide to future growth. The plan will highlight the diverse nature of Sugar Hill and will strive to include as many voices as possible. The city anticipates engaging directly with the community in multiple ways, including but not limited to group discussions, one-on-one discussions, and outreach at local venues.

IV. Work Tasks:The City of Sugar Hill will prepare a new comprehensive plan in accordance with requirements outlined by the Rules of Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Chapter 110-12-1: Minimum Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning. The primary objectives for this major update are to:

• Comprehensively inventory and evaluate existing conditions and trends related to land use, transportation, recreation, health, safety, technology resources, natural resources, cultural resources, facilities, utilities, and other services in the City of Sugar Hill and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Involve a diverse sample of community shareholders in informative conversations about the future of our community.
• Connect those conversations to a practical but imaginative shared vision that is responsive to the needs and desires of our community.
• Design a work program to ensure the city continues to grow in a meaningful and sustainable way toward that shared vision.

The city requests assistance with the planning, execution, and interpretation of community outreach efforts, to provide the most accurate data about how our community envisions the future. The work to be accomplished under this contract shall result in deliverables as listed below:

DELIVERABLES

Summaries of the plan development process:

1. A description of the study process and methodology, data gathering techniques and findings, and general outcomes.
2. A description of the public participation process used to achieve a community-supported program of improvements.

Existing conditions summary, including:

1. Maps, concept illustrations, and other graphic representations to support the plan including (but not limited to): the study area, existing land use, future land use, existing transportation facilities, road classifications, and proposed transportation improvements.
2. Existing and projected population and employment data, including the following:
3. Number of existing and anticipated housing units and population
4. Distribution of proposed housing units by type
5. Number of existing and anticipated jobs
6. Square feet of future non-residential development
7. Identify locations of stream buffers, floodplains, and potential stormwater management issues

Implementation Strategy:

1. Describe the organizational structure and process that will be used to ensure the action plan items are implemented. Focus should be given to collaboration opportunities with other organizations and strategies to ensure continued support from local elected officials, citizens and businesses.
2. A 100-day Action plan shall be developed to include no-cost or very low-cost actions and organizational steps needed to keep momentum going. It should encourage continuous shareholder involvement and shared responsibility for the plan's success.
3. An evaluation process used to monitor plan implementation and update the action plan every five years (or more often if needed) should be identified.

PROJECT TIMELINE

The following tentative schedule identifies the selection timeline. The schedule is subject to change as circumstances dictate or as determined necessary by or in the best interests of the City. Notification of changes in the response due date will be posted on the City website.

RFP Available to Public: January 11, 2023 at 12PM

Questions Due to the City: January 26, 2023 at 12PM

Sealed Proposals Due to the City: February 9, 2023 at 12PM

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