Bid document - Village Center Consultant.docx.pdf

Town of Dover 5 Springdale Ave.

Dover, MA 02030

Invitation for Bids

Project: To Develop and Draft Zoning Amendments To Promote the Revitalization of Dover Center

ELECTRONIC RESPONSES DUE:

October 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM

SUBMIT BIDS TO:

Kate O’Brien, Assistant Town Administrator kobrien@doverma.gov

Summary The Town of Dover is requesting bids from qualified consultants to develop and draft zoning amendments for the goal of revitalizing Dover Center while preserving its charm and special character. As part of the development of zoning amendments, the consultant shall lead discussion at four meetings as noted in the Scope of Work below including a kick-off meeting, a meeting to review a minimum of two alternative scenarios for Dover Center and select a preferred choice, and develop and draft zoning changes to implement that choice. Changes shall be written with reference to the appropriate sections of the Zoning Bylaw, so they may readily be incorporated as articles for Town

Meeting and do not need further rewriting. The successful consultant shall provide information and illustrations to assist the Planning Board in selecting a preferred scenario, to promote public awareness and to provide public education prior to Town Meeting. The selection of the preferred scenario will include input from Town departments, boards and stakeholders, to be facilitated by the consultant. The zoning amendments will implement the preferred scenario and will most likely include provision for mixed use, simple

Design Guidelines, and adjustments to the Definitions, Table of Uses and parking requirements of the Zoning Bylaw.

Background In the fall of 2021, the Planning Board commissioned Civic Space Collaborative to conduct a survey of Town residents’ visual preferences with respect to

Dover Village Center. The study showed there was consensus that two-story buildings, traditional New England building styles, pitched roofs, buildings with decks and patios or nearly flush to the street were preferred. Civic Space made a public presentation of these findings in March, 2022. Since then, the

Planning Board has continued to explore possibilities for revitalizing the center that generally respect these preferences. The Board has discussed potential uses that should be encouraged, interviewed stakeholders, and identified next steps. There is agreement that while the quaint character of the village is an important asset, a more vibrant center is needed. Adoption of zoning amendments to achieve these goals is the ultimate objective of this project.

The Planning Board has discussed that this will most likely include a residential component on upper floors above businesses.

Dover Center is served by public and private water systems but there is no municipal sewer. The potential for additional growth on private septic systems is still being determined.

Description of Services to be Provided

Scope of Work Task 1) Review and understand background material and context including

a) Location of Business Zoning District and other zoning districts in Dover Village Center

b) Buildings, sites and uses of individual properties, property owners, business owners and residents in the Center

c) Relevant sections of Dover Zoning Bylaw, including the Table of Uses, Dimensional Requirements, Site Plan Review Standards and Parking Requirements;

d) The Village Visioning Plan including the Visual Preference Survey;

e) Minutes from and Zoom recordings of recent Planning Board meetings where the Village Center was discussed emphasizing small scale, simple building styles, preservation and reuse of historic buildings and desirability of drawing more people into the center.

f) Notes from conversations with Village Center influencers.

Task 2) Planning Board will invite other Town land use boards, the Board of Selectmen and interested parties such as business owners, commercial property owners and local residents to a Kickoff Meeting. At the kickoff meeting, the consultant will review goals for the Village Center and facilitate discussion of opportunities including what vacant land, redevelopment possibilities and infrastructure are available. What changes can support the local economy while preserving the character of this central part of Dover? What would enhance the area to make it more welcoming? The consultant will provide visuals to illustrate typical redevelopment of a single lot, for example as mixed use.

Task 3) The Town Planner will update other Town land use departments on the progress of this initiative at weekly meetings chaired by the Building Inspector.

Task 4) Other Town land use boards and interested parties are invited to a second Planning Board meeting (Meeting 2) where the consultant will present two alternative development scenarios for the Village Center with illustrations. The Planning Board will request boards & others’ input, review and discuss this input, and select the preferred scenario.

Task 5) The consultant will draft a zoning amendment to implement the preferred scenario. The Planning Board will distribute to other Town land use boards, interested parties and department heads, and obtain comments. The draft is likely to include a Design Review Process, provision for mixed use, and possible changes to parking, landscaping and dimensional requirements as needed. The consultant presents the zoning amendment at a third Planning Board meeting (Meeting 3).

Task 6) Additional time and/or meetings may be needed to make adjustments to the zoning amendment prior to finalizing for Town Meeting. A minimum of one additional meeting shall be budgeted for, for this purpose (Meeting 4.)

Summary of Meetings

• Kickoff Meeting: discuss study goals and objectives with project team, refine scope and review schedule milestones;

• Meeting 2 – Develop development scenarios; Planning Board selects recommended scenario

• Meetings 3-4 and as needed – Draft amendment(s) presented to the Planning Board. Adjustments made as needed.

Deliverables

• Facilitation of public meetings with Town departments and stakeholders, as described in the Scope of Work

• Presentation of a minimum of two development scenarios, with written description and illustrations

• Final drafts of zoning amendments

• Powerpoint to be used at Town Meeting, to include the illustrations of development scenarios and other graphics to illustrate the effect of the article(s)

Information Available

The background material described in Task 1) of the Scope of Work available on the Town’s website can be found at https://doverma.gov/590/Village-Center-Visioning.

The Dover Zoning Bylaw is available at https://doverma.gov/257/Planning-Board.

Selection Process https://doverma.gov/590/Village-Center-Visioning https://doverma.gov/257/Planning-Board

Bid Submission Requirements Electronic submissions must be sent to the Assistant Town Administrator Kate O’Brien, via email at kobrien@doverma.gov. Responses are due by 12:00 pm on October 18, 2022. Late submissions will not be accepted. The contract will be awarded within three weeks after bids are submitted. If any changes are made to this IFB, an addendum will be issued. Addenda will be emailed to all bidders on record as having received the IFB. Questions concerning this invitation for bids must be submitted in writing to: Kate O’Brien at kobrien@doverma.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday October 13, 2022.

Required Bid Contents All responses to the IFB shall include the following:

Information on Project Team

1. Resumes for the Principal of the firm and Project Manager, and all staff and sub-consultants proposed to work on the project, which shall include, but is not limited to: Years of work experience in a municipal setting as a professional planning consultant, consulting landscape architect or other identified professional specialization; degrees and licensure(s). Description, timing and location of relevant experience of the Principal and Project

Manager over the past seven years. Note any certifications, awards, or training that will assist in qualifying your firm for the project. Identify

Principal-In-Charge (P.I.C.) and Project Manager.

2. Indicate the anticipated roles and responsibilities of key project staff;

include an organizational chart depicting the same.

3. Indicate the relationship with proposed sub-consultants and indicate which services are being provided in-house.

References Describe relevant experience for at least three municipal projects which had a similar Scope of Work, population and size of business district, which shall include the following: name of client, contact person and their current phone, brief description of service performed, date of services, and final contract amount and any other pertinent information regarding experience. The Town has the option to contact any or all of your clients.

mailto:kobrien@doverma.gov mailto:kobrien@doverma.gov

Proposed Approach Discuss your firm’s role, methodology, and approach to the Scope of Services.

Firms may suggest different approaches to achieving the objectives. Describe how your firm will approach each task of the project meeting the needs and minimum requirements stated in the Scope of Services of this IFB. Provide a proposed timeline for completion of the tasks in the Scope of Services including meetings.

Fee/Project Rates A proposed fee for the Scope of Services must be submitted when responding to this IFB. Please include the hourly rate for all personnel working on the project, and for additional services. Hourly rates should be all inclusive (travel, miscellaneous expenses).

Selection Process Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Proposer’s Qualifications

2. Relevance of Experience of Project Manager and Professionals who will work on the project.

3. Project Team/Key Personnel

4. Overall Project Approach

5. Project Approach is Appropriate and Suitable for the Town of Dover

6. Skills, creativity and ability to develop new ideas, produce relevant graphics and write zoning amendments

7. Capacity to move the project forward expeditiously

8. References

The Town will invite up to three (3) firms for interviews with the Planning Board to evaluate the suitability of the proposed project approach for the Town of Dover.

Interviews are expected to occur on October 24.