Village of schuylerville request for proposals planning and zoning legal counsel

The Village of Schuylerville, Saratoga County, New York, is requesting proposals from qualified attorneys or law firms to serve as Planning and Zoning Counsel/Special Counsel, with proposals due October 7, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. and questions due September 30. The Village requires a fixed monthly retainer structure for ordinary services rather than hourly billing — this is a non-negotiable eligibility filter.

The scope encompasses legal advice to the Village Board of Trustees, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Code Enforcement Officer, Village Clerk, and Mayor on zoning, planning, land use, development review, and related municipal law. Services include counsel on site plan review, special use permits, subdivisions, and environmental review; variance applications and zoning interpretations; SEQRA compliance; zoning amendments and local law assistance; code enforcement guidance; development application review; meeting attendance; and administrative and procedural guidance. The monthly retainer must cover telephone calls, emails, conference attendance, application and agenda review, legal research, meeting preparation and attendance, drafting of resolutions and findings, zoning amendment review, SEQRA advice, and other ordinary planning and zoning services. Proposals imposing hourly billing rates for ordinary services may be deemed non-responsive. Exceptional matters such as Article 78 proceedings, appellate litigation, federal civil rights litigation, or extensive trial-level litigation may be treated as extraordinary services requiring separate predetermined compensation approved in advance by the Village Board.

Respondents must demonstrate admission to practice law in New York, substantial familiarity with New York municipal and land-use law, experience advising municipalities or similar governmental bodies, working knowledge of Village Law Article 7, Municipal Home Rule Law, SEQRA, and Open Meetings Law, and professional liability insurance. The Village anticipates an initial contract term of approximately one year, subject to Village Board approval and execution of a professional services agreement, with the possibility of renewal upon mutual agreement. Evaluation criteria are municipal land-use experience, knowledge of SEQRA and Article 78 proceedings, availability and responsiveness, references, conflict profile, proposed monthly retainer, and overall value to the Village.