HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlainfield IL Comp Plan RFP 3-30-20222022 Comprehensive Plan Request for Proposals
Planning Department
planning@goplainfield.com
815-436-7093
Issued March 30, 2022
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Introduction
The Village of Plainfield is seeking the services of a professional planning firm/consultant to
facilitate the preparation of a new Comprehensive Plan as further specified in this document.
The RFP response will need to be submitted via PDF to planning@goplainfield.com by 12 p.m.
(CST) on May 6, 2022, with the subject line providing the consultant organization’s name and
“Village of Plainfield Comprehensive Plan.” If file sizes are larger than 25 MB, please submit via
Dropbox or another compatible file share program one day prior to the deadline to ensure
documents can be downloaded prior to deadline.
The Village’s lead points of contact for the Comp Plan project will include the following:
Overall Project Coordinator: Jake Melrose, AICP, jmelrose@goplainfield.com
Project Manager: Jon Proulx, jproulx@goplainfield.com
Project Team Member: Amanda Martinez, amartinez@goplainfield.com
Fully downloaded electronic submittals are due by 12 p.m. (CST) on May 6, 2022.
This document is posted on the Village website, www.plainfieldil.gov under RFPs & Bids.
Conditions of Proposal
1. All prospective consultants shall comply with the requirements, conditions, and
specifications contained in this RFP.
2. The Village of Plainfield is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all
experienced firms to submit a proposal.
3. Questions concerning the scope of the project should be directed to the Project Manager
in writing via email. All questions need to be submitted by 12 p.m. on May 2, 2022.
4. Any submittal received after the deadline will not be considered.
5. All costs incurred in the preparation and presentation of the proposal shall be entirely
borne by the prospective consultant and their sub-consultants and will not be reimbursed
by the Village of Plainfield.
6. The RFP or cover letter shall be signed by an authorized representative with contract
signature authority of the proposing company.
7. Only one proposal will be accepted from any one company serving as a prime
consultant. Sub-consultants may be included in the response of the prime consultant if
more than one firm will be working on the project.
8. The Village is subject to public information laws, which permit access to most records
and documents. Proprietary information in your response must be clearly identified and
will be protected to the extent legally permissible. Proposals may not be marked
‘Proprietary’ in their entirety. Information considered proprietary is limited to material
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
treated as confidential in the normal conduct of business, trade secrets, and discount
information. All provisions of any contract resulting from this request for proposals will
be public information.
9. The cover page or cover sheet for each submittal will be stamped with date and time of
receipt by the Village Planning Department.
10. A selection committee composed of Village Staff will review all RFPs received and short-
list qualified candidates for an interview process, if warranted.
11. Notification of short-listed teams and scheduling of interviews will proceed as defined in
the project schedule below.
12. The Village reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any
irregularities or informalities. The Village has no obligation to retain any consultant or
sub-consultant for this project. The Village has no obligation to award any work to a
selected consultant and makes no guarantees as to the amount of work that may or may
not be awarded or actually performed.
13. No work shall commence until after the consultant provides the required proof of
insurance, a contract is executed, and a Notice to Proceed has been issued by the
Village.
RFP Response Expectations
The response to this RFP is intended to help the Village select an experienced and qualified
consultant that has a proven track record of municipal comprehensive planning and a high level
of creativity not only in their planning, but their approach to community engagement and the
formation of a plan. The response to this RFP should provide examples of the consultant’s
abilities in that regard specifically related to municipal comprehensive planning; however, the
consultant does not need to provide excessive materials or displays but rather examples with
follow-up links that Village Staff can research beyond the response. The response should also
include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. One-page cover letter expressing the consultant’s interest with primary project contact
and addressed to Jake Melrose, AICP, Economic Development Director.
2. Description of Project Team illustrating the consultant’s workload capacity and ability to
complete the project no later than July 1, 2023.
3. The project approach the consultant will take to complete the Plainfield Comprehensive
Plan.
4. Description of anticipated project timeline.
5. List of the consultant’s current rate sheet and a breakdown of anticipated project costs.
6. Type of software utilized for design and community engagement
Selection Criteria & Process
The selection process that will be utilized is outlined below to assist the Village in selecting the
most qualified candidate. A selection committee comprised of primarily Village Staff will review,
evaluate, and score all proposals based on the criteria and weights defined below.
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
Village of Plainfield Comprehensive Plan RFP Scoring Criteria
Criteria Standard Max. Scoring Weight
Overall Understanding
& Completeness
Understanding the Scope of Services, the Village
of Plainfield, and demonstrating a complete
approach to perform the desired services; Submit a
clear and high-quality RFP; adherence to the RFP
conditions and elements. If RFP package exceeds
25 pages, 5 points will be deducted from this score.
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Project Team
1. Definition and clarity of roles
2. Project Manager’s qualifications
3. Project Lead Staff qualifications
4. Other key team members’ qualifications
5. Sub-consultants’ qualifications
6. Experience of key team members working
together (continuity)
15
Relevant Project
Experience
1. Similar projects successfully completed
2. References, see separate evaluation table on
the following page
15
Workload Capacity
1. Availability and commitment of key team
members and resources to perform the work in
the time frame required
2. Other contractual obligations and ability to
meet multiple obligations
3. Support staff and production capabilities
10
Budget Distribution of budget relative to the outcomes and
process outlined in the RFP 10
Project Approach
1. Understanding of the unique elements of the
project
2. Understanding of issues, risks, concerns,
multiple elements, and variety of interests
3. Approach to analyzing and solving the key
issues
4. Ideas for cost-effective solutions
5. Innovative but feasible ideas for
implementation by Plainfield
6. Timeline for completion
7. How the consultant addresses the expected
deliverables
30
Display of Creativity
1. Examples of creative design or planning
2. Community engagement practices
implemented
3. Software utilization
15
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
Background
The Village of Plainfield is located 35 miles southwest of Chicago. Plainfield was founded in
1834 and draws on a strong agricultural and mercantile heritage. In the past two decades,
Plainfield’s population has grown nearly ten-fold, from approximately 4,500 in 1990 to roughly
45,000 today. The Village currently is served by Pace Suburban Bus that provides a commuting
option through Pace’s Bus on Shoulder program to Downtown Chicago.
The Village’s historic downtown is recognized as both a local historic district and on the National
Register of Historic Places. Downtown Plainfield underwent a streetscape project that was
completed in 2008 which provided a pedestrian-friendly environment with multiple restaurants
and shops.
The Village is at the confluence of four state or federal highways (Interstate 55, US 30/Lincoln
Highway, Illinois Route 59, and Illinois Route 126) and is also crossed by the Canadian National
(CN) railway with approximately 16 at-grade rail crossings and one grade-separated crossing.
The Village will soon begin construction on the eastern extension of 143rd Street from IL 59 to IL
126 that will create a passenger/truck vehicle bypass of the downtown, eliminating a current
source of major congestion in the heart of the community.
Plainfield is experiencing strong demand for new residential construction, permitting over 360
new single-family homes in 2021 with the expectation to exceed that in 2022. There are also
significant opportunities for light industrial development along focused transportation corridors.
The Village of Plainfield’s’ municipal boundary and broader planning area falls within both Will
and Kendall Counties and encompasses portions of four townships. The Village is served by
outside Fire and Park Districts (i.e., not departments of the Village) with multiple fire, library,
park, and school districts extending within Plainfield’s jurisdiction.
Existing Resources
The Village of Plainfield has completed many different planning documents that include the
current comprehensive plan which was adopted in 2002 with periodic updates in 2004, 2012,
and 2013. The current plan focuses on transportation and land use (viewed here) and includes
a policy framework with the following categories: Community Character; Economic
Development; Environment; Historic Downtown; Open Space; Public Facilities and Services;
Residential Neighborhoods; Transportation; and Implementation.
The Village’s Engineering Department is currently starting the process to update the Village’s
Transportation Plan. The Village recently created a new Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan that
exhibits an environmentally responsible and sustainable plan to further develop the riverfront as
a passive recreational oasis between the Village’s historic downtown and extended downtown
area exhibited in the Teng Plan below. For more planning resources, please visit the Village’s
Planning Department webpage.
Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan
Complete Streets Plan
“Teng Plan” for expanded downtown/Downtown TIF redevelopment plan
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
Anticipated Focal Points
The Village’s intent is to create a new comprehensive plan with a 10-year vision that will build
off of the existing strengths of the community and will provide a framework of how to best utilize
those strengths to create an economically viable and sustainable community. Through
innovative and creative planning, the Plan will have the ability to be fluid as development trends
and needs of housing, retail, and industrial development continue to evolve. To achieve this,
the chosen consultant must be able to complete the scope of work provided below as well as
the following focal points:
Housing
Plainfield’s housing is predominately single-family detached homes. And while single-family
homes continue to be the primary housing option, Village Staff recognizes that housing trends
are evolving, with increasing demand for alternative housing choices including duplexes,
townhomes, apartments, and condominiums. An analysis of Plainfield’s existing housing stock
and its ongoing growth patterns will need to be assessed.
The consultant should also focus on potential negative impacts of Plainfield’s growth such as
affordability, growth patterns versus national trends, lack of diverse housing, sprawl
development and its impact to the local school districts, and ensuring residential zoning and
development is inclusionary and pro-development.
143rd Street Corridor – Industrial Opportunity
The Village of Plainfield’s tax burden primarily falls on the residents of the community with a
limited industrial base. An extension of 143rd Street east between Route 59 and Route
126/Main Street and west from Steiner Road to Ridge Road will create a continuous 143rd Street
corridor. Coupled with these infrastructure improvements, a new warehouse for a local industrial
employer, Diageo, was constructed in 2019, west of Steiner Road, on 143rd Street. One of the
primary goals of the Comprehensive Plan process is to assess this corridor as new
development opportunities are quickly approaching and there is a need to identify proper
planning measures throughout the area such as appropriate land use transitioning to the north
and south of this corridor.
Downtown Vision
Downtown Plainfield is the face of the community in many respects. And while the vintage
downtown is well established with historic buildings dating back to the late 1800s, the downtown
also offers untapped potential to evolve for the generations to come. The existing historic
downtown offers opportunities for mixed-use redevelopment of outmoded or underutilized
parcels. The expanded downtown, commonly referred to as “Village Center,” west of the
DuPage River includes significant parcels with mixed-use development potential. Currently, IL
Route 126 is the main arterial through this area and is the northern border of the historic
downtown. IL 126 is expected to be rerouted to 143rd diverting heavier, pass-through traffic
outside of the downtown. This gives the Village the ability to create a pedestrian friendly
environment west of the river similar to the historic downtown. The new comprehensive plan
should articulate a vision for the vintage and expanded downtown that can be cohesive with
both while incorporating the Riverfront as part of this vision.
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
Community Cohesion / Community Identity
The Village of Plainfield covers a broad geographic area, with a planning area spanning
approximately 25 square miles. The Village’s population has grown to nearly 45,000 residents,
nearly half of whom have moved to Plainfield since 2000. Most residents leave Plainfield for
work. Commutes and convenience of shopping and dining near work divert many residents from
the Village and undermine Plainfield’s ability to strengthen our sense of community. The
updated Comprehensive Plan offers an opportunity to provide strategies to bring together our
current and future residents as part of one cohesive Village of Plainfield.
Village Sustainability
Plainfield has grown due to its many assets, including:
• Plainfield is one of the safest communities in Illinois.
• The Village offers high-quality homes with a strong value proposition.
• Plainfield’s school districts are well-respected and offer parents a great place to raise a
family.
• Together, the Plainfield Park District, Oswegoland Park District, Forest Preserve District
of Will County, and the Village of Plainfield offer expansive open space and opportunities
for recreation.
• The Village’s water supply is secured for decades to come with Lake Michigan as its
water source. Likewise, the Village’s wastewater treatment plan can serve a population
of 75,000 with opportunities for expansion.
In summary, thanks to the governance of the current and past elected officials and Village Staff,
Plainfield is in an enviable community with a strong sense of place. Staff’s hope for the new
Comprehensive Plan is that it provides a framework for Plainfield to build on its existing
success, leading to a future Plainfield that is financially sound, with a balance of revenue
sources and suitable mix of uses to share the property tax burden to maintain and enhance
Plainfield’s current quality of life.
Transportation Plan
The Public Works Department is currently updating the Village’s Transportation Plan. For the
Comprehensive Plan, the scope of work related to a transportation element or transportation
planning should be limited to coordinating with the Public Works Department’s efforts (including
participation in its public outreach activities) and incorporating key plans and recommendations
into the Comprehensive Plan.
Scope of Work
The following presents a minimum scope of work to be met by the consultant in the formation of
the Plainfield Comprehensive Plan. The consultant is encouraged to propose additional items if
they believe those items are necessary to develop a high-quality Comprehensive Plan. At a
minimum, the update must focus on ensuring greater predictability in the planning and
development process through:
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
1. Building a consensus-based vision through a community-wide participatory process that
is multi-faceted in its engagement approach (i.e., web-based/in-person outreach, etc.)
2. Developing principles for the required plan elements.
3. Provide information to residents, businesses, and policy makers on the meaning and
role of the Comprehensive Plan.
4. Provide a comprehensive description and analysis of existing conditions, including the
physical, economic, demographic, and social factors that will drive or constrain the
development of the community. The community assessment should provide
comparisons to similar communities to serve as benchmarks for the Village.
5. Review existing planning documents, noting the status of implementation, and identify
projects and policies for consideration in the new plan.
6. Provide an assessment of past and current Plainfield residential development trends
analyzing potential social and environmental impacts with recommendations to move
forward to avoid any future negative impacts.
7. Analysis of census demographic data of the Village to understand the changes, or lack
of changes, as it relates to racial and ethnic diversity of the community from the previous
plan to new plan.
8. Develop and maintain a plan website that will provide up-to-date progress of the plan
and a platform that can be used for community engagement.
9. Lead an extensive, creative, and diverse engagement process with residents,
businesses, and policy makers.
10. Provide thorough communication with the ad hoc Steering Committee and execute
regular meetings with the committee.
11. Develop conceptual plans with 3D modeling, especially in particular areas where scaling
is of concern, to test development concepts for areas to be identified during the planning
process.
12. Develop both short and long-term goals in an implementation plan that coordinates
decision making across Village departments and between the public and private sector.
13. Include capital projects, regulatory changes, and new or revised programs or procedures
to be implemented over a ten-year period.
14. Identify funding sources and responsible parties for implementation measures.
15. Provide zoning ordinance amendment recommendations necessary to achieve goals
and objectives of the Plan.
16. Provide graphically rich, user-friendly documents that can be printed and viewed online.
17. Final documents shall be provided electronically to the Village in an editable format.
Anticipated Deliverables
1. Public Outreach Plan
2. Project Management Plan
3. Presentation materials for all public, committee, Plan Commission, and Village Board
meetings
4. Project website
5. Reports of each public engagement activity
6. Existing Conditions report including a table providing existing land uses by acre and a
housing stock table calculating total counts by type of housing
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Village of Plainfield, IL
Comprehensive Plan RFP
7. Draft Plan
8. Final Plan: The consultant shall provide 20 bound copies, a pdf, and an editable file of
the final plan.
Anticipated RFP Schedule
This schedule is subject to change.
Release RFP: March 30, 2022
Final Day for Questions: May 2, 2022, by 12 p.m.
Responses Due: May 6, 2022, by 12 p.m.
Shortlist of Consultants: May 20, 2022
Interviews (if warranted): June 1-2, 2022
Committee Review & Selection: June 3, 2022
Board Approval: June 20, 2022