Trustee Ben Grumbles Trustee Debbie Taranto Trustee Ryan Rivers Chair Zoning Department Michele Boni, Development and Zoning Director Request for Proposals Orange Township Zoning Resolution Review and Update 1. Important Note Offers are advised to read, understand, and become familiar with the instructions, requirements, and specifications set forth in this Request for Proposals (“RFP”). By submitting a proposal, offerors will be presumed to be familiar with all the instructions, requirements, and specifications set forth in this RFP. 2. Introduction The Zoning Commission for Orange Township, Delaware County, Ohio (“Commission”) is currently accepting proposals from qualified planning and zoning consultants (“Consultant”) to conduct a comprehensive review and update of the Orange Township Zoning Resolution (“Resolution”) and Orange Township Zoning Map (“Zoning Map”). The address of the Commission is as follows: Orange Zoning Commission Orange Township Hall 1680 E. Orange Rd. Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 3. Orange Township A. Community Profile Orange Township, Delaware County, Ohio (“Township”) is an urban township consisting of over 30,000 people. It is located just north of Columbus, Ohio. Given its close proximity to Columbus, and the amenities and quality of life available, the Township is a desired community in which to live and work, as evidenced by its unbroken continued growth since the 1990’s. Although its use mix is predominantly residential, it also includes a diverse mix of commercial and industrial uses within its limits. The major retail corridors are US Rte. 23 (a.k.a. Columbus Pike) and S.R. 750 (a.k.a. E. Powell Road). B. Commission The Commission was established by R.C. § 519.04 and consists of five (5) regular members. The Commission also has two (2) alternate members, who may serve on the Commission in place of an absent regular member. The Commission is charged with carrying out those duties assigned to it by the Ohio Revised Code. Pursuant to R.C. § 519.12, these duties include initiating, holding hearings on, and making recommendations to the Orange Township Board of Trustees (“Board”) on amendments to the Resolution. To assist it in its duties, the Commission has the authority, within the limits of the moneys appropriated by the Board, to contract with planning consultants. R.C. § 519.05. The current Resolution review and update project (“Project”) falls within these duties and this authority of the Commission. C. Township Zoning Staff The Orange Township Planning and Zoning Department (“Zoning Department”) consists of three (3) full-time and two (2) part-time staff members (“Zoning Staff”). The Department’s Development and Zoning Director will serve as the Project Manager and point of contact for this Project. Members of the Zoning Staff, Commission, and Orange Township Board of Zoning Appeals (“BZA”) will play significant roles in the process. Final approval and adoption of any resulting changes to the Resolution and zoning map will be determined pursuant to the process mandated in Ohio Revised Code (“R.C.”) Section 519.12. 4. Zoning and Planning Documents A. Current Zoning Resolution Zoning was initially adopted in Orange Township in 1955. The current Resolution consists of thirty (30) articles containing definitions, twelve (12) zoning districts, general development standards, sign and billboard standards, and zoning board and zoning official regulations and procedures. The current zoning districts are a mix of planned and Euclidean districts. A copy of the current Resolution can be found on the Township website at: http://www.orangetwp.org/index.aspx?NID=190. Text amendments are made to the Resolution on almost an annual basis. The most recent text amendment to the Resolution occurred in 2020 with the implementation of the Route 23 Corridor Overlay District (RCOD). Prior text amendments to the Resolution have included expansion of the prior nominal “Definitions” section, bifurcation of the prior Planned Residential District into separate single-family and multi-family planned districts, addressing the regulation of adult uses, creation of a new planned district directed to senior housing, adoption of lighting standards, the permitting of previously prohibited temporary uses, RFP - Resolution Review and Update Page 2 of 28 delegation of landscaping and architectural review responsibility to the Zoning Inspector, as well as the periodic update of various items in response to perceived issues, changes in the law, and clerical issues. While many changes have been made to the Resolution over the years, there has not been a major rewrite of the Resolution in decades. The current Project is anticipated to entail a major re-write to insert or address needed, desired, or missing items and correct errors and oversights that may exist. B. “Planning Orange” – 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan The Township recently adopted the 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan known as “Planning Orange.” The plan focuses on land use and is intended to be a guide and provide a policy basis for amendments and updates to the Resolution. The plan includes the following recommendations: • Potential Zoning Changes for Future Discussion (Appendix B.4) • Creation of street design guidelines to help incentivize development that promotes active transportation (walking, biking, etc.). • Consider new processes to reduce obstacles facing developers seeking to build in Orange Township • Encourages Orange Township to have a new branding initiative. This is currently in process. However, it will require amendments to the signage code. Additional recommendations are included in Planning Orange. A copy of Planning Orange can be found on the Township website at: https://www.orangetwp.org/DocumentCenter/View/2778/Land-Use-Plan 12318?ProposalId C. Zoning Diagnostics Report To identify issues with the current Resolution, the Commission recent had an independent third party perform an analysis of the Resolution. This resulted in a Zoning Diagnostics Report (“Diagnostics Report”). A copy of the Diagnostics Report, including identified deficiencies with the current Resolution, is electronically available upon request. To receive a copy, send an email to Michele Boni, Township Development and Zoning Director at: [email protected]. 5. Scope of Work The selected Consultant will conduct a comprehensive review and update of the Resolution and Zoning Map. The final scope of work shall be determined jointly by the Consultant, Zoning Staff, Commission, and BZA, but at a minimum shall include performance of the following: RFP - Resolution Review and Update Page 3 of 28 A. Collaboration • The Consultant shall receive input from and work collaboratively on this project with members of the Zoning Staff, Commission, and BZA. • The Consultant shall be responsible to all date and fact gathering for the project. • The Consultant shall be responsible for drafting all updates to the Resolution and Zoning Map. • Discussion of current difficulties experienced by the Zoning Staff, Commission, and BZA. • B. Review • Review a) the Resolution, b) the Diagnostics Report, and c) Planning Orange. The Consultant will work closely with Zoning Staff to produce an analysis of the current Resolution, taking into account the goals, objectives and recommendations in Planning Orange (i.e. 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan) to ensure consideration of that plan in the analysis of the current Resolution. C. Considerations • Consideration of updates to all articles and sections of the Resolution. • Exploration, within legal limits, of new practices and/or processes to reduce obstacles facing developers seeking to build in the Township. • Consideration of appropriate responses to the Township’s current branding initiative. This will likely involve consideration of changes to the signage code and other zoning standards. • Consideration of amendment of the signage standards in a manner calculated to comply with Reed vs. Gilbert, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015). • Consideration of further expansion of the “Definitions” section of the Resolution. • Consideration of land uses additional to those currently permitted. • Consideration of the “Potential Zoning Changes for Future Discussion” contained in Appendix B.4 of Planning Orange. • Consideration of the creation of a new mixed use planned district. This district would allow for a “new urbanism” style development intended to provide a sense of place and a gathering spot for the community. • Consideration of amendment of existing planned residential districts to accommodate empty-nester/condo proposals. • Consideration of amendment of the Farm Residential District (FR-1) to provide specific standards for Old Lewis Center/Lewis Center Village. • Consideration of other overlay districts, similar to the new Route 23 Corridor Overlay District (RCOD). The intent of this type of district is to encourage a mix of uses with consistent development standards and a streamlined review process. • Consideration of amendment of the General Development Standards (Article XXI). • Consideration of removing zoning districts that no longer apply or are no longer needed. • Consideration of incorporating the new, but now separate, Route 23 Corridor Overlay District (RCOD) in to the body of the updated Resolution. RFP - Resolution Review and Update Page 4 of 28 • Consideration of any and all other amendments that may benefit the Township. D. Work • Prepare, draft, and present an analysis of the current Resolution. The analysis shall be based on the Consultant’s reviews of