Land Use and Development Code Update

THE CITY OF LACONIA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
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CITY C>N THE LAKES
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP No. 26-07-12P
Land Use and Development Code Update
Due August 7, 2026, by 2:30 PM

SECTION 1 - CONSUL TANT INSTRUCTIONS
Interested consultants must read the entire Request for Proposal (RFP) and submit the required
documents in the manner specified in the RFP. Consultants are responsible for reviewing the most
updated information related to this RFP before submitting proposals.
In this RFP, "consultant" means a person or entity who offers products or services for sale. "Se
lected consultant" means the qualified bidder which has been identified by the City as having re
ceived the best score for its proposal according to the criteria set forth in this RFP.
The selected Consultant will collaborate with the City to establish the scope of work, project time
line, public involvement strategies, and deliverables. The resulting contract will be "Not-to-Ex
ceed" for the term of one ( 1) year from the date of the City Manager's signature. The contract
term may be extended by two (2) additional terms of six ( 6) months each at the sole option of the
City, subject to the parties' prior written agreement.
SECTION 2 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
The City of Laconia, known as the "City on the Lakes," serves as the economic, cultural, recrea
tional, and governmental center of New Hampshire's Lakes Region. Situated along Lakes Winni
pesaukee, Winnisquam, and Opechee, Laconia is home to approximately 17,000 residents and is
distinguished by its historic neighborhoods, vibrant village centers, extensive waterfronts, natural
resources, and year-round residential community.
Laconia is experiencing one of the most significant periods of growth and investment in its recent
history. More than 800 housing units are currently under construction, with an additional 2,500
units in various stages of planning and review. Major redevelopment initiatives, including the
former Laconia State School property and continued investment in Downtown Laconia, Lakeport
Village, and Weirs Beach, are creating opportunities for housing, economic growth, and revitali
zation while increasing demands on infrastructure, municipal services, and environmental re
sources.
To guide this growth, the City is preparing Laconia: Forward Together, a comprehensive update
to the City's Master Plan. The emerging vision identifies Laconia as a vibrant, year-round lakeside
community and regional center that balances thoughtful growth with preservation and conserva
tion, strengthens neighborhoods and village centers, protects natural and historic resources, and
provides opportunities for people of all ages to live, work, recreate, and thrive. Public engagement
efforts have identified housing, economic vitality, environmental stewardship, infrastructure in
vestment, and community character as key priorities.
The Master Plan is further supported by the City Council's Strategic Plan and ongoing redevelop
ment, infrastructure, housing, and economic development initiatives. Together, these efforts pro
vide a framework for guiding future growth and investment throughout the City.
To implement these priorities, the City seeks professional planning and land use consulting ser
vices to prepare a comprehensive Community Development Code. The new Code will consolidate
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and modernize the City's zoning and development regulations into a clear, user-friendly, and le
gally defensible document that supports housing choice, economic opportunity, redevelopment,
environmental stewardship, and preservation of community character.
The City anticipates awarding a contract of approximately $150,000 for this project. Respondents
are encouraged to identify additional tasks, analyses, mapping efforts, engagement strategies, or
implementation tools that could enhance project outcomes. Additional funding may be available,
at the City's discretion, for additional services that provide significant value and advance project
objectives.
Upon completion, the Community Development Code will establish a modern regulatory frame
work that supports housing production, strengthens village centers, encourages redevelopment and
adaptive reuse, streamlines permitting, improves environmental resiliency, and provides greater
predictability for residents, businesses, developers, and decision-makers. Ultimately, the project
will transform the vision of Laconia: Forward Together into effective regulations that guide
growth and investment for decades to come.
SECTION 3 - PROJECT VISION AND OBJECTIVES
3.1. Project Vision
The City of Laconia seeks to develop a modern, comprehensive Community Development Code
that transforms the vision, goals, and recommendations of Laconia: Forward Together into a clear
and effective regulatory framework. The new code will guide growth and development in a man
ner that strengthens the City's neighborhoods and village centers, supports a vibrant year-round
economy, expands housing opportunities, protects natural and historic resources, and preserves the
qualities that make Laconia a unique lakeside community and regional center.
3.2. Primary Objective
The primary objective of this project is to prepare a comprehensive Community Development
Code that serves as the City's principal tool for implementing the Master Plan, advancing commu
nity priorities, and guiding future growth and investment. The Code shall:
* Implement the vision, goals, policies, and recommendations of Laconia: Forward To
gether.
* Support housing choice and expand opportunities for residents of varying ages, incomes,
and household types.
* Encourage economic development, reinvestment, and long-term economic resilience.
* Protect and enhance neighborhood character, community identity, and sense of place.
* Preserve natural resources, environmental quality, water resources, and recreational assets.
* Facilitate redevelopment, adaptive reuse, and strategic infill development in appropriate
locations.
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* Streamline development review procedures and improve administrative efficiency.
* Create a clear, predictable, user-friendly, and legally defensible ordinance that is easily
understood by residents, property owners, developers, board members, and City staff.
3.3. Guiding Principles
The Consultant shall utilize the following guiding principles throughout the project and demon
strate how the proposed Community Development Code advances each objective:
3.3.1. Predictability
Create a regulatory framework that provides certainty and transparency for residents, busi
nesses, property owners, developers, and public officials while reducing unnecessary ambigu
ity and discretionary decision-making.
3.3.2. Flexibility
Promote innovative development solutions and allow regulations to adapt to changing market
conditions, community needs, emerging technologies, and future planning initiatives.
3.3.3. Simplicity
Organize the Code using clear language, logical structure, graphics, tables, and procedures that
improve usability and reduce complexity for both applicants and administrators.
3.3.4. Sustainability
Support responsible growth patterns, environmental stewardship, resiliency, resource conser
vation, and long-term community well-being.
3.3.5. Housing Diversity
Expand opportunities for a range of housing types that support workforce housing, aging in
place, young families, and multi-generational living while reinforcing neighborhood stability
and character.
3.3.6. Economic Vitality
Strengthen Laconia's role as the economic center of the Lakes Region by encouraging rein
vestment, entrepreneurship, tourism, manufacturing, healthcare, and mixed-use development.
3.3.7. Context-Sensitive Design
Promote development patterns and design standards that respect the character, scale, and func
tion of neighborhoods, village centers, waterfront areas, and commercial corridors while ac
commodating future growth.
3.3.8. Fiscal Responsibility
Encourage efficient land use patterns and development strategies that leverage existing infra
structure, support long-term municipal sustainability, and maximize public investments.
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3.3.9. Equity and Accessibility
Promote fair and inclusive development practices that improve access to housing, transporta
tion, employment, public spaces, and community services for residents of all ages, abilities,
incomes, and backgrounds.
The resulting Community Development Code should establish a durable regulatory framework
that balances growth and conservation, supports strategic public and private investment, and ad
vances the long-term vision of a thriving, resilient, and connected City of Laconia.
SECTION 4 - PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK
The City of Laconia seeks proposals from qualified consulting firms to prepare a comprehensive
Community Development Code that implements the vision, goals, and recommendations of Laco
nia: Forward Together and supports the City's long-term housing, economic development, envi
ronmental stewardship, redevelopment, and community character objectives.
The City recognizes that there are multiple approaches to successfully completing a project of this
nature and encourages respondents to utilize their professional expertise and experience to develop
a proposed scope of work that best achieves the project's objectives. The City is particularly in
terested in innovative approaches, best practices, and methodologies that have proven successful
in comparable communities. At a minimum, the proposed scope of work should address the fol
lowing elements:
4.1. Project Management and Coordination
The Consultant should describe its proposed approach to project initiation, management, commu
nication, scheduling, and coordination throughout the project. Proposals should identify key pro
ject phases, milestones, management responsibilities, communication protocols, and opportunities
for City review and input.
4.2. Existing Conditions and Regulatory Assessment
The Consultant should evaluate the City's existing regulatory framework and identify opportunities
to improve the effectiveness, usability, consistency, and implementation of land use regulations.
The assessment should consider current zoning and development regulations, development review
procedures, administrative processes, adopted plans and policies, and relevant state statutes.
The City encourages respondents to recommend methodologies for identifying regulatory barriers,
implementation challenges, and opportunities for modernization, simplification, and alignment
with community goals.
4.3. Public and Stakeholder Engagement
The Consultant should develop and implement a public engagement strategy designed to educate,
inform, and solicit meaningful input from residents, businesses, property owners, developers, in
stitutions, elected officials, appointed boards, and other stakeholders.
Respondents should propose an engagement program that reflects industry best practices and in
cludes a combination of in-person and digital engagement opportunities. Particular emphasis
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should be placed on obtaining feedback related to housing, economic development, redevelop
ment, environmental stewardship, transportation, community character, and implementation pri
orities.
4.4. Community Development Code Framework
The Consultant should evaluate and recommend an organizational framework for the Community
Development Code that provides a clear, user-friendly, and legally defensible structure. The
framework should support the City's goals related to housing, economic development, redevelop
ment, environmental protection, community character, and efficient administration.
Respondents should identify their approach to organizing regulations, integrating development
standards and procedures, utilizing graphics and illustrations, and creating a document that is ac
cessible to developers, business owners, residents, boards, and City staff.
4.5. Community Development Code Preparation
The Consultant should prepare a comprehensive Community Development Code that modernizes
and consolidates the City's land use and development regulations. The Code should address topics
the Consultant determines necessary to effectively implement the Master Plan and achieve the
objectives identified in this RFP. At a minimum, proposals should discuss how the Consultant
would evaluate and address:
* Land use and zoning districts.
* Housing and housing diversity.
* Redevelopment and adaptive reuse.
* Development and design standards.
* Administrative procedures and review processes.
* Character-based development strategies.
* Historic preservation and community character.
* Environmental protection and resiliency.
* Incorporating building, property maintenance, fire, and life-safety codes.
* Complete streets, sidewalks, and transportation corridors.
* Other implementation tools deemed appropriate by the Consultant.
4.6. Mapping and Visualization
The Consultant should identify the mapping, GIS, graphic, and visualization tools necessary to
support implementation of the Community Development Code. Proposals should describe how
mapping products will support ordinance development, communication with stakeholders, and fu
ture administration by the City.
4.7. Adoption and Implementation Support
The Consultant should describe its approach to assisting the City through public review, ordinance
revisions, presentations, public hearings, and final adoption. The City also encourages respondents
to discuss implementation strategies, training opportunities, and recommendations for future
amendments and maintenance of the Code.
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4.8. Proposed Deliverables
Respondents shall identify all proposed deliverables associated with their recommended scope of
work, including interim products, draft documents, public engagement materials, mapping prod
ucts, final code documents, implementation tools, and any other materials necessary to success
fully complete the project.
4.9. Consultant Innovation and Value-Added Services
The City encourages respondents to recommend additional tasks, analyses, engagement tech
niques, implementation strategies, visualization tools, or other services that would improve project
outcomes and provide long-term value. Consultants should clearly identify any recommended
enhancements beyond the core scope and explain how those services support the City's goals.
The City anticipates awarding a contract of approximately $150,000 for this project; however,
respondents are encouraged to present the scope of work they believe is necessary to achieve the
project objectives. Additional funding may be available, at the City's discretion, for services, anal
yses, deliverables, or enhancements that provide substantial value and advance the overall success
of the Community Development Code project.
SECTION 5 - CONSULT ANT QUALIFICATIONS
The City seeks a highly qualified multidisciplinary consulting team with demonstrated expertise
in municipal planning, zoning, land use regulation, and community engagement. The selected
Consultant shall possess the technical, legal, and public process experience necessary to prepare a
modern, implementable, and legally defensible Community Development Code consistent with
the vision and recommendations of Laconia: Forward Together.
5.1. Minimum Qualifications
At a minimum, the Consultant shall demonstrate substantial experience in the following areas:
* New Hampshire zoning and land use regulation.
* Preparation and implementation of Community Development Codes, municipal zoning or
dinances, or comparable land use regulatory frameworks.
* Housing-focused zoning and land use reform, including strategies that support housing
choice, workforce housing, missing-middle housing, and housing affordability.
* Form-based zoning, character-based development regulations, and context-sensitive de
sign standards.
* Historic preservation planning, adaptive reuse strategies, and neighborhood conservation
techniques.
* Public engagement, facilitation, stakeholder outreach, and consensus-building processes.
* GIS mapping, zoning map preparation, and spatial analysis.
* Legal defensibility review and preparation of land use regulations that are consistent with
applicable state statutes and accepted planning practices.
5.2. Required Experience
The Consultant shall provide evidence of successful completion of similar projects and shall in
clude:
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* A minimum of three (3) substantially comparable zoning ordinance, Community Develop
ment Code, or similar land use code update projects completed within the last ten (10)
years.
* A minimum of three (3) municipal client references, including contact information and
project descriptions.
* Identification of all key personnel proposed for the project, such as a project manager, lead
planner, zoning specialist, public engagement lead, GIS specialist, and any subconsultants.
Resumes shall be provided for all key personnel and shall demonstrate relevant experience
directly related to the scope of services.
5.3. Geographic Experience Preference
Because local knowledge of New Hampshire planning practice, state statutes, and regional devel
opment issues is critical to the success of this project, the City will give preference to consulting
teams with demonstrated experience in communities similar to Laconia and within the geographic
region.
During evaluation, the City may consider the following hierarchy of experience and preference:
1. Previous planning, zoning, or code development experience with the City of Laconia.
2. Experience with other New Hampshire municipalities, particularly communities facing
housing growth, redevelopment, tourism, waterfront development, village center revitali
zation, or similar land use challenges.
3. Experience with municipalities located elsewhere within New England, including Maine,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
4. Experience with municipalities outside of New England.
While the City welcomes proposals from qualified firms regardless oflocation, respondents should
clearly demonstrate their understanding of New Hampshire land use law, regional planning prac
tices, housing challenges, redevelopment opportunities, environmental considerations, and the
unique development pressures facing communities within the Lakes Region. Experience working
in seasonal tourism-based communities, waterfront communities, small cities, and regional service
centers will be considered favorably.
5.4. Desired Consultant Attributes
The City seeks a consulting team that can demonstrate:
* Technical excellence in zoning and land use regulation.
* Strong written, graphic, and communication skills.
* Experience translating master plan recommendations into implementation tools.
* Collaborative project management and stakeholder facilitation capabilities.
* Innovation in ordinance design and organization.
* Ability to deliver a clear, user-friendly, and visually engaging final product.
* Commitment to completing the project on schedule and within budget.
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The City reserves the right to evaluate the qualifications of the Consultant, project team, subcon
sultants, references, and past project experience when determining the firm best qualified to un
dertake this project.
SECTION 6 - EVALUATION CRITERIA
The City will evaluate proposals using a qualifications-based selection process designed to identify
the consultant team best suited to prepare a comprehensive Community Development Code for the
City of Laconia. Proposals will be reviewed by an evaluation committee consisting of City staff.
The evaluation committee will utilize a consensus scoring methodology, whereby committee
members will discuss the merits of each proposal and collectively assign a single consensus score
for each evaluation criterion. The intent of this process is to encourage a balanced and collabora
tive evaluation that reflects the collective judgment of the review committee
The maximum score available shall be 100 points, allocated as follows:
Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points I
Technical Expertise 25 I
New Hampshire Land Use Regulatory Experience 20 I
Public Engagement Approach 15
Similar Code Update Experience 10
Project Team Qualifications 10
Project Understanding & Innovation 5
Cost Proposal 15
Total Possible Points I 100
Technical Expertise (25 Points)
The City will evaluate the respondent's demonstrated knowledge, experience, and technical capac
ity related to zoning, land use planning, Community Development Codes, housing-focused regu
latory reform, form-based zoning, historic preservation, GIS mapping, and development regula
tions. Particular consideration will be given to the consultant's ability to prepare clear, legally
defensible, and user-friendly land use regulations.
New Hampshire Land Use Regulatory Experience (20 Points)
The City will evaluate the consultant's experience working within New Hampshire's statutory and
regulatory framework, including experience preparing zoning ordinances, development regula
tions, and code amendments for New Hampshire municipalities. Additional consideration may be
given to respondents with prior experience in Laconia, the Lakes Region, or communities facing
similar housing, redevelopment, tourism, and growth-related challenges. Consistent with the
City's consultant qualification preferences, experience within Laconia will be viewed most favor
ably, followed by experience in other New Hampshire communities, other New England munici
palities, and municipalities outside the region.
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Public Engagement Approach (15 Points)
The City will evaluate the quality, creativity, and effectiveness of the proposed public engagement
strategy, including methods for obtaining meaningful participation from residents, businesses,
property owners, developers, community organizations, elected officials, and appointed boards
and commissions. The approach should demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accessibility,
education, and community consensus-building.
Similar Code Update Experience (10 Points)
The City will evaluate the respondent's experience successfully completing comparable zoning
ordinance updates, Community Development Codes, or other land use regulatory modernization
projects. Consideration will be given to project complexity, relevance to the City's objectives,
demonstrated implementation success, and experience in communities similar to Laconia.
Project Team Qualifications (10 Points)
The City will evaluate the qualifications, experience, and availability of the proposed project team,
including but not limited to the project manager, lead planners, zoning specialists, public engage
ment professionals, legal reviewers, GIS specialists, and subconsultants. The City will consider
the team's collective expertise, relevant project experience, and ability to successfully complete
the project within the proposed schedule and budget.
Project Understanding & Innovation (5 Points)
The City will evaluate the consultant's understanding of Laconia's opportunities and challenges,
including housing needs, redevelopment opportunities, environmental stewardship, village center
revitalization, infrastructure investment, community character, and implementation of the Laco
nia: Forward Together Master Plan. Additional consideration will be given to innovative ap
proaches, best practices, implementation strategies, graphic communication techniques, and crea
tive solutions that advance the City's long-term vision.
Cost Proposal (15 Points)
The City will evaluate the reasonableness, completeness, and competitiveness of the proposed fee
structure, including staffing, scope of services, project management, public engagement activities,
mapping, ordinance drafting, adoption support, and overall value. Cost proposals will be evaluated
in conjunction with qualifications, experience, and demonstrated ability to deliver a high-quality
final product. Cost proposals must include tasks and deliverables to be provided for a base cost of
$150,000. Cost proposals may further provide a breakdown of the cost for additional and/or rec
ommended tasks and deliverables. The City reserves the right to select the proposal that offers the
best overall value and is not obligated to award the contract to the lowest-cost respondent.
Selection Methodology
The evaluation committee will review all responsive proposals and assign consensus scores for
each evaluation criterion. Following the completion of scoring, respondents may be ranked based
on total points received. The City reserves the right to conduct interviews, request additional in
formation, seek clarifications, negotiate scope or pricing, waive minor irregularities, and reject any
or all proposals if deemed to be in the best interest of the City. The City may also consider refer
ences, project experience, consultant responsiveness, and overall project fit when making a final
selection recommendation.
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