AECOM ││ iGeneral Consulting Services, Discipline Specific Engineering Services, and Power Energy Services for the Year 2023
City of Orange – Objective
Design Standards
Revised on February 9, 2023
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR
Submitted to: City of Orange
Submitted by: AECOM T echnical Services, Inc.
AECOM ││ 1City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards February 9, 2023
Community Development Department, Planning Division
Attn: Chad Ortlieb
City of Orange
300 E. Chapman Avenue
Orange, California 92866
RE: City of Orange Request for Proposal – Objective Design Standards - REVISIONS Dear Mr. Ortlieb and the Selection Committee:
On behalf of the AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM) team, we are pleased to submit a revised proposal for the creation of Objective Design Standards in the City of Orange. This revision builds off our initial submission, in response to the project needs and constraints articulated to AECOM in discussions with the City.
AECOM is a multi-disciplinary firm offering integrated services across the full spectrum of planning, land use policy, urban design and public outreach, allowing us to work in an efficient, coordinated manner and deliver the highest-quality work. We understand the challenges of updating policies and zoning code, especially when, due to changes in State law, development projects may be larger in scale than many in the community are used to seeing. These standards will bring an opportunity to align the character of future housing with the values of the City and transition between different scales and styles.
We offer a depth of expertise directly relevant to this project, including the creation of objective standards for zoning districts in cities like Santa Monica and South Pasadena, the update of eight Specific Plans with objective standards in Pasadena, as well as specific plans in Burbank and Florence Firestone.
We are excited for this opportunity and look forward to discussing the project further with you.
Sincerely,
Susan Ambrosini
Principal, AECOM
T: 917.692.9593
E: [email protected]
Donna Clandening
Managing Principal, Vice President
Buildings + Places, Southern California
T: 213-593-7761
E: donna.clandening @aecom.com
AECOM
999 W. Town and Country Rd.
Orange, CA 92868
aecom.com
Letter of Interest
AECOM ││ 2City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards Project Understanding
Project Understanding
Many cities, including Orange, have relied on a robust
development review process to encourage contextual,
attractive residential projects with high-quality design. However, due to recent California State legislation, cities must shift away from lengthy design review processes and the use of design guidelines as primary tools to influence projects and move to a streamlined model that relies on objective standards. A few significant laws include:
• Housing Accountability Act (SB 167): cities may not deny, reduce the density of, or make housing development
projects infeasible.
• Housing Accountability & Affordability Act (SB 35): housing development projects in cities that fail to make sufficient progress toward meeting their Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA) goals will be permitted on a ministerial basis when they comply with objective standards and a
specified level of affordability.
• Housing Crisis Act (SB 330): guidelines created after 1/1/2020 cannot be enforced on housing development
projects and a decision in five or fewer public hearings (among other provisions).
While the City of Orange has development standards and
residential design guidelines in place, those which are subjective may no longer be used to deny housing development projects; the City must use objective development and design standards to review eligible housing projects moving forward. Objective standards, which are measurable and independently verifiable using no personal judgment, create greater certainty through the review process and help to streamline project approvals.
Objective design standards make it easier for various
stakeholders – applicants, decision makers, members of the public and staff – to understand the regulations and encourages the production of housing by making the process more certain and less time consuming. The intent is to set requirements up front so potential developers don’t spend time and money on ambiguous process delays and the changing desires of discretionary reviews. The best objective design standards have a predictable outcome yet adapt to allow flexibility for creative and innovative design solutions. They can take many different forms, including measurements and ranges, ratios and calculations, lists and tables, as well as menus of options.
AECOM understands this Objective Design Standards (ODS) project is focused on the following objectives: assessing the City’s existing policies and processes, engaging the community to inform the standards with multiple workshops, crafting the design standards to be both objective and context-sensitive throughout different geographies, making recommendations to streamline review processes, and supporting City staff through Council adoption. The standards will include those related to site planning, building design, open space, landscaping, parking, and related elements such as doors and windows, fences and walls, and architectural styling. These standards will be designed to:
• Comply with State law;
• Streamline project review and permitting or facilitate ministerial project review;
• Support contextually appropriate development an provide for sensitive transitions between adjacent neighborhoods and uses;
• Graphically display standards; and
• Ensure consistent application for eligible projects.
We also understand that the standards must be sensitive to the City of Orange’s community culture, environment, and long- term vision; consistent with the General Plan; and compatible with applicable development standards. The creation of these standards will help satisfy the City’s Housing Policy Action 2E from its adopted Housing Element, which is designed to facilitate infill residential construction by streamlining review processes and reducing/objectifying development standards.
AECOM is currently creating objective design standards for the cities of Santa Monica, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Montebello, Santa Fe Springs, Burbank, and Long Beach. Our team of urban planners, designers, architects, and landscape architects understand how to create the right balance between design standards that elevate the quality of design in communities, but that also allow for an appropriate amount of flexibility for property owners and developers. We have found that
collaborating with the local design and development community is often the most effective way to gain support for the new standards and the incorporation of simple, straightforward visuals and photographs is critical to communicating new standards to the community and stakeholders. As a team with public sector current planning experience, we understand the importance of consistency across zones and integration into the wider zoning code to create a process that’s easy for Orange’s planners to implement. The following section contains our scope of work based on our understand of the City’s needs for this project. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss in more detail.
AECOM ││ 3City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards Scope of Work
AECOM has developed the following revised approach to completing the Scope of Work outlined in the RFP , as well as subsequent discussions with staff regarding project constraints and needs. We propose a collaborative process, engaging with city staff throughout the project.
Task 1: Analysis of City Planning and Land Use
Policy Documents
Task 1.1: Kick-off Meeting w/ Site Visit and City Staff discussions
The project team will hold one (1) kick-off meeting in which we anticipate the following items to be addressed:
• Key project goals and objectives;
• Project schedule and milestones;
• Scope of work adjustments or clarifications;
• Roles and communication protocols;
• Cloud-based document sharing;
• Style guides and formatting preferences;
• Invoicing procedures and format; and
• Scheduling of biweekly project management meetings.
After the meeting, AECOM will provide meeting notes and a list of initial data and information needs.
To obtain an understanding of baseline conditions, AECOM will meet with the City’s planning staff to discuss recent projects in the area, zoning issues that may be contributing to the lack of housing development, or design issues to be addressed as part of the new zones. This insight will allow for the everyday application knowledge of the City’s zoning staff to assess the facets of existing code and processes that work well or result in challenges for achieving desired development and investment.
Building upon this context, AECOM will then schedule a site visit with City staff to better understand recent development and design issues and successes and take photographs for use throughout the project. As part of the site visit, AECOM will observe recently constructed residential development as well as areas anticipated for future multifamily development to gain insight on what elements of design are important to the City.
Task 1.2: Planning and Land Use Policies Review and
Memo
AECOM will conduct a high-level review of the regulatory framework focused on land use policies and the current
entitlement process for eligible residential projects. This review will include:
• An analysis of the City’s General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Infill Residential Design Guidelines, as they relate to design standards;
• A summary of existing multi-family or mixed use permit procedures;
• A review of any related planning efforts as they relate to residential development;
• An assessment of current and representative housing
project applications and plans provided by the City to
understand how existing development standards are being applied and interpreted; and
• An overview of and comparison to similar cities’
development and design standards.
The review will be summarized in a brief memo, which will identify options and recommendations for a design standard approach.
Task 1 Deliverables
• Kick off meeting agenda, attendance, and meeting notes • Attendance at one City staff discussion (up to 2 hours) – Up to two (2) AECOM staff present
• Site visit with up to three (3) AECOM staff, with agenda and meeting notes
• City planning/land use policies memo (Word/PDF)
Scope of Work
AECOM ││ 4City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards Task 2: Preliminary and Final Objective
Design Standards
Task 2.1: Preliminary Design Standards
Efforts in Task 1 will identify the baseline for the creation of new objective design standards.The design standards will be aligned with the intent, density, form, and development standards of Orange. AECOM understands that objective
standards need to reflect current State law, allow for
architectural flexibility and creativity, and enable shifting market demand and trends.
Preliminary standards will be separated into two types of development: multi-family and mixed-use. AECOM will work with staff to tweak the standard language where necessary to fit different zoning districts and ensure that the design standards properly scale when applied to areas with different development standards (i.e. height/FAR/density limits,
setbacks, etc). Where appropriate, new standards will include clear, easily legible graphics that will be user-friendly for applicants and City staff as well as the general public.
The preliminary standards will be provided to staff for one (1) round of review and comment, to inform revisions to be made to the final standards, to be delivered within Task 2.2.
Task 2.2: Final Objective Design Standards
After City staff review, AECOM will address staff comments and adjust the standards and process recommendation
for the final design standards. This task has been designed to result in a deliverable that City staff can take forward to recommending and decision making bodies, as appropriate.
Should the City require assistance with meetings or outreach efforts associated with the draft or final standards, AECOM can provide for an additional fee.
Task 2 Deliverables
• Preliminary Design Standards and entitlement process
outline (Word or InDesign, and PDF)
• Final Design Standards (Word or InDesign and PDF)
Task 3: Project Management
AECOM’s Project Manager will provide consistent project management across the life of the project, including
coordination with the City’s Project Manager on biweekly project management meetings, with other staff invited as warranted. The PM will manage this on a time and materials basis to attend as many coordination meetings as possible within the task budget. Coordination is assumed to include meetings and/or calls to address any topic including but not limited to: technical materials, staff input and direction, as well as general project planning.
If the City prefers, AECOM can allocate Project Management proportionally within Tasks 1 above, instead of separating it into an individual task.
Deliverables
• Biweekly meeting agendas and notes
AECOM ││ 5City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards Below is our proposed schedule based on the scope provided in the RFP and our experience on similar projects.
Week
1/2
3/4
5/6
7/8
9/10
11/12
13/14
15/16
17/18
19/20
21/22
23/24
25/26
27/28
Task 1 Analysis of City Planning and Land Use Policy Documents
1.1 Kick off meeting w/ site visit and City Staff discussions
1.2 Planning and Land Use Policies Review
Task 2 Draft Objective Design Standards
2.1 Preliminary Design Standards
2.2 Final Objective Design Standards
Task 3 Project Management
3.1 Biweekly Meetings
3.2 Ongoing Project Management
Schedule
Schedule
AECOM ││ City of Orange – Request for Proposal for Objective Design Standards Hourly Rate
Susan
Ambrosini
Project Director
Scott
Williamson
Project
Manager
Mike Peterson
T ask Lead /
Urban Planner +
Designer
Kevin Borja
Urban Planner
/ Outreach
Specialist
BeiBei Chen
Urban Designer
Mark McVay
Principal
Architect
Brendan
Kempf
Landscape
Architect
Joseph Nally
Project
Administration
Total
Hours Labor Cost ODCs Total Cost$250.00 $215.00 $125.00 $125.00 $185.00 $300.00 $150.00 $150.00 Task 1 Analysis of City Planning and Land Use Policy
Documents 21 36 32 56 0 2 0 0 147 $24,590 $200 $24,790
1.1 Kick off meeting w/ site visit and City Staff
discussions 15 28 20 16 2 81 $14,870 $200 $15,070
1.2 Planning and Land Use Policies Review 6 8 12 40 66 $9,720 $9,720 Task 2 Draft and Final Objective Design Standards 15 30 70 100 40 12 16 0 443 $69,425 $69,425
2.1 Preliminary Design Standards 15 30 70 100 40 12 16 283 $44,850 $44,850
2.2 Final Objective Design Standards 15 30 75 40 160 $24,575 $24,575 Task 3 Project Management 24 63 20 0 0 0 0 12 119 $23,845 $23,845
3.1 Biweekly Meetings 14 28 20 62 $12,020 $12,020
3.2 Ongoing Project Management 10 35 12 57 $11,825 $11,825 60 129 122 156 40 14 16 12 709 $117,860 $200 $118,060
Cost Proposal
Rates are subject to annual escalation of 4% beginning on Octobe r 1, 2023.
AECOM ││ vGeneral Consulting Services, Discipline Specific Engineering Services, and Power Energy Services for the Year 2023
Contact
Susan Ambrosini, AICP
Principal
T: 917.692.9593
[email protected]
aecom.com
About AECOM
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