Comprehensive Plan
| The Board of Trustees of the Village of South Nyack finds:That the public health, welfare and safety of a community should be protected, as much as possible, by rational planning with the aim of ensuring a successful future for the residents of the community and the governmental agencies that serve them; that this aim is achieved by a process here called rational planning; that rational planning presumes that goals and objectives for the public health, welfare and safety of the community can be clearly stated and consensually agreed upon, even though mutable; and that a cyclic process of rational planning proceeds from these goals: first measures of the state of the community must be identified from which assessment of goal attainment can be made; then the method(s) and protocol for the collection of these metrics should be specified and the data collected; third, the data should then be summarized and integrated to assess the current state of goal attainment; fourth, that the discrepancy between the current state and the desired goal(s) should be described in detail and policy and practice alternatives designed to reduce the discrepancy enumerated; and fifth, that these alternatives should be thoroughly evaluated and the preferred alternative selected and implemented. The process then returns to enter a new cycle; and That success at each step in the rational planning process is proportional to the breadth and level of detail of scope and description of goals and measures; to the inclusiveness of community and governmental agency involvement and input; to the transparency of the process as an open endeavor the results of which impact every citizen; and to the sensitivity of the planning process to the dynamics between the majority and various minority viewpoints: and that at its best, planning involves, informs and enlightens all of the members of the community and strengthens the bonds of common interest; and That the plan describing the rational planning process with its goals, measures, data, discrepancies, policies, practices and alternatives; and a description of the process by which these will be refined and evolved over time, comprise a Village Comprehensive Plan (VCP); and That the creation and development of the VCP is best accomplished by a Comprehensive Planning Board (CPB) of community members whose breadth of interest, expertise, perspective and talent broadly encompass the citizens of the Village; appointed by the Village Board of Trustees; and charged to produce the VCP; and That the board charged to produce the VCP be granted the privilege and authority to assemble community members, interested parties and experts as necessary to accomplish its charge. Thank YouThank you to all who filled out the community survey and attended the first Comprehensive Plan public workshop. We were amazed at the turnout for the meeting. Sixty eight people attended, making us scramble for chairs. Everyone was so cooperative, taking turns and actively listening to each other. This was true community spirit at work! The presentation is now posted on the Village website. Most of the discussion centered on the TZB/I287 project and its impact on South Nyack. We encourage you to attend the TZB/I287 project's next presentation, June 30 from 4pm to 8pm at the Palisades Mall. Many of you expressed an interest in having another workshop. We'd like to have one to focus on the other issues affecting South Nyack that we didn't discuss much this time. For those of you who supplied email addresses, we will try to keep you informed as much as possible. We're a bit technically challenged, but we are trying to get our electronic communication working better. The board meets sporadically, but most often Monday mornings from 7:30 to 9:30, every two to three weeks. The meetings are all open to the public. Please come and contribute. Check with Sally or Denise at Village Hall to confirm meeting dates and times. Thank you again for contributing to shaping your village's future. Jerry Ilowite Request for ProposalComprehensive PlanVillage of South Nyack, New YorkI. IntroductionThe Village of South Nyack, New York (known further as "the Village") is in the process of drafting a new Comprehensive Plan. The previous plan dates from 1969. In the following 41 years, minor adjustments have been made to zoning and village code to reflect changes in demography and land use. This piecemeal approach to municipal planning is no longer adequate to ensure a sustainable community. Potential concerns include but are not limited to:
In order to address these concerns, in 2009 the Village Trustees appointed a 5 person Comprehensive Planning Board (further referred to as "the CPB") and a $20,000 budget, to draft a new Village Comprehensive Plan. The CPB reviewed the previous Plan for the Village along with plans for adjacent municipalities and towns, as well as select comparable municipalities. Additionally, in May 2010 the CPB mailed a questionnaire to Village residents and home owners to solicit public input. This survey led to a public meeting held in June 2010. The outcome of the review by the CPB and the first public meeting is a set of goals to inform creation of the draft Village Comprehensive Plan. II. Request for ProposalsWith the approval of Village Trustees, the CPB is putting forth this RFP to hire Planning Consultants to assist in developing an updated Village Comprehensive Plan reflecting the vision of the Village. The Comprehensive Plan (henceforth "the Plan") will build on previous thought and attention to issues identified by the community survey. The goal now is to formalize the critical issues into definite categories, and develop strategies to address these issues. The consultant will formalize the data provided by the CPB to write a draft plan. Due to the length of time that has passed since the adoption of the 1969 Comprehensive Plan, the new Plan will serve as a standalone document, informed by but not an update to the 1969 Comprehensive Plan. While the Plan may recommend potential new zoning regulation, specific changes are outside the scope of the Plan.The Consultants will work with the CPB in reviewing the findings thus far, help develop community consensus, and help direct the synthesis of a cohesive Plan. As outlined later in this RFP (Section III) the CPB requests that Consultants perform four primary tasks:
Qualified consultants are encouraged to submit proposals to conduct all these tasks. To allow fair evaluation of proposals, each proposal must follow the following format: 1. Statement of Firm Qualifications A description of the firm submitting the proposal, including: business name, legal status (corporate, partnership or sole proprietor), number and type of employees, firm specialties, length of ownership, and prior experience in similar projects, including the specific personnel who worked on them who are proposed to work on this project. For each of the relevant past projects, include the past project's name and client, year completed, dollar amount and telephone number of a contact person at the entity the work was performed for that possesses direct knowledge of the referenced project. 2. Project Team Qualifications (Curriculum Vitae) Provide an organizational chart of employees proposed to work on the RFP, including the project manager, primary contact person. Please provide Curriculum Vitae for each consultant, include individual specialties and relevant prior project experience. Please limit biographical material that does not directly clarify qualifications and experience of the consultant and/or firm. 3. Project Schedule & Details The Consultants shall outline proposed milestones for the project, outlining necessary tasks with start and end dates for each item outlined in section III of this RFP. This should include a brief description of the proposed approach, timeline, and scope of each phase, and the expected number of meetings between consultants and the CPB for each step. The CPB will be responsible for space requests for meetings in the Village. 4. Payment Schedule and Costs The Consultants shall provide fixed-fee cost estimates separately for each work item in Section III, plus a total cost for the entire project. The Consultants shall also provide an hourly rate for personnel assigned to the project. A total, not-to-exceed dollar value for any reimbursable expenses associated with each individual work item must be specified. A rate for each type of expense, such as mileage, printing expenses, etc. must be specified. Payment will take place only after work items are completed to the CPB's satisfaction. 5. Alternative Work Items The proposal may include a list of alternative work items listed as an additional expense. Each additional work item shall be clearly identified and related to the full description provided in the Consultant's technical proposal. Such alternative work item price shall include a list of staff and hours estimated to complete each work item. Payment shall be based on a fixed-fee cost, to be paid at completion of tasks to CPB satisfaction. 6. Non-Collusion Certification Each proposal shall include a signed original of the Certificate of Non-Collusion attached hereto and made part of this RFP in Exhibit "A". One original and six (6) copies of the proposal shall be submitted no later than 5:00pm Eastern Daylight Time on September 15, 2010. The proposal shall be submitted by U.S. Mail, overnight delivery, or in person to the Village of South Nyack Comprehensive Planning Board, c/o Village Clerk at Village Hall, 282 South Broadway, South Nyack, NY 10960. The CPB reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. III. Work ScopeThe CPB has outlined the following four primary tasks for the development of the South Nyack Village Comprehensive Plan: 1. Review relevant planning documents and research by the CPB. The consultants and CPB will identify what additional information (GIS maps, data, ordinances, etc.) is required and obtain missing material. 2. Work with the CPB to formalize a draft Plan. Assist in presentation of the draft Plan to Village Trustees and the public through public hearings and workshops. This task will include meeting with the public and elected officials to promote understanding and allow comment on the draft Plan. Every reasonable effort should be made to ensure maximum engagement and communication with the residents of the Village. The Consultant will meet with the CPB to discuss potential revisions of the draft Plan following public comment. The Plan shall be considered a draft until the Village Trustees vote to accept the Plan. 3. Assist with preliminary feasibility for a Lid Park over I-287/87 as it passes through the Village. 4. Assist the CPB in developing the Plan to serve as a GEIS, for the Village to use to fulfill its obligations under SEQRA. The Consultants will be responsible for preparing all paperwork, including documents, forms, findings, resolutions, letters, public notices, etc., required for compliance with SEQRA. The Consultant will identify meetings with the CPB and/or Village Trustees to prepare the SEQRA compliance documents as well as any related public workshop/public presentation meetings/public hearing meetings. These Primary tasks provide a general outline of the work involved. It shall be the responsibility of each consultant who replies to this RFP, to identify the specific sub-tasks and action items, timetables, and meetings required for completion of the work outlined above. The CPB reserves the right to request quotes for additional tasks. Questions Regarding this RFP shall be done in writing, attention of the Village of South Nyack Comprehensive Planning Board, c/o Village Clerk at Village Hall, 282 South Broadway, South Nyack, NY 10960, or by e-mail to cpb@southnyack.ny.gov. In order to provide sufficient time for the CPB to receive, assess, and prepare a response to questions, all written questions must be received no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals as set forth in Section II above. A written reply will be mailed/e-mailed to the consultant from whom the question was received. Any question not in writing will not be answered by the CPB. The CPB reserves the right to extend the date to accept submissions, to allow time to reply to question(s), and provide adequate time to consider reply(s). The deadline to exercise this right shall be no closer than five (5) business days before the deadline. It is the responsibility of each consultant to check the CPB web-site for any deadline changes. IV. DeliverablesThe consultant shall generate the draft and final version of the Comprehensive Plan along including all requisite maps and SEQRA documentation. The Plan shall be prepared as follows:
V. Evaluation CriteriaThe CPB will evaluate all written proposals based on the following criteria:
The CPB may choose one or more firms to be interviewed. If the CPB chooses to hold interviews, it is expected interviews would be held two weeks after final submission of proposals. Interviews will consist of a presentation by consultants of no more than 15 minutes, followed by a question and answer session by the CPB. The CPB reserves the right to have Village officials present for interviews. After the conclusion of interviews, the CPB will make the final selection and contact the winning firm to negotiate a contract for the selected services, which shall include specific details as to cost, insurance requirements, timetable for commencement and completion of tasks, schedule for payments and deliverables, and the general and specific responsibilities of all parties. The CPB reserves the right, to reject any and all proposals, reissue the RFP, and/or request additional information from one or more consultants or firms. Exhibit "A" Certificate of No-CollusionThe undersigned, affirms that they are an authorized agent allowed to submit this Request for Proposal (RFP) on behalf of their firm, its owners, directors, and officer. The authorized agent takes responsibility for all prices and amounts associated with the proposal. The authorized agent hereby states that the budget accompanying this RFP has been arrived at independently and without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other responder to this RFP. No attempt has or will be made to encourage or discourage any other consultant or firm to submit or not submit a proposal in order to restrict competition. Firm Name:______________________________________________________ Firm Address:____________________________________________________ Telephone:_______________________________________________________ Authorized Agent Name (print):______________________________________ Authorized Agent Name (signature): __________________________________ Before me, a Notary Public in the said County and State personally Notary Signature: ___________________________________ Notary Name (print):_________________________________ County of Residence: ________________________________ Commission Expiration Date: _________________________ Village of South Nyack Comprehensive PlanThe following is a collection of issues confronting the Village included as of the time of this writing. It is by no means comprehensive. It is intended to give the CPB ideas of areas to study in the development of the Village Comprehensive Plan.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?A Comprehensive Plan (also known as a "Master Plan") encompasses the Village's "vision" for its future. It provides the basis for many of the policies, regulations, and budget decisions that the Village will make in the future. Comprehensive plans identify where and how growth needs will be met and provides the framework and policy direction for land use decisions. While the Comprehensive Plan deals primarily with land use it can also address issues such as transportation, housing, economic development, parks and recreation, utilities, environmental conservation, etc. How is a Comprehensive Plan different from the Zoning Code?The Village's Zoning Code is a set of laws that specifically regulate how land in the Village may be developed and used. The Comprehensive Plan articulates the principles on which the zoning laws are based. If the Comprehensive Plan identifies certain goals, then the Village Trustees will pass zoning and other laws that further the achievement of those goals, either by restricting certain activities or encouraging and perhaps incentivizing other activities. Why do we need a new Comprehensive Plan?A Comprehensive Plan is a "living" document that needs to grow along with our community. It should be updated periodically to remain current and reflective of the desires of the community. Our last plan dates from 1969. We are well overdue for a revision. New York State law encourages municipalities to have a Comprehensive Plan. Our Planning Board and Zoning Board use the Comprehensive Plan to help in interpreting our land use laws when making judgments on development applications presented to the Village. What are some of the issues that might be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan?A lot has been going on around us in recent years. A new Comprehensive Plan can help us determine how we want to deal with these issues and coordinate with our neighbors. Some of the important issues that will affect South Nyack include:
How can I help?Public participation is critical to create a successful Comprehensive Plan. To truly encompass the collective vision of our Village, it needs the benefit of all of our visions, ideas, and opinions. The Trustees have appointed a Comprehensive Planning Board (CPB) to draft the new Comprehensive Plan. There will be several public meetings to gather ideas and views from our residents. The CPB will also be seeking volunteers to assist them. We encourage you to become engaged in the process. If you are interested in participating, please contact Village Hall at 358-0287. How can I get more information?Our Village officials would be pleased to answer any of your questions. Please contact Village Hall at 358-0287. |