Charlottesville seeking firms to help review proposals submitted under new Development Code

With a new Development Code to implement, staff is seeking additional help for review of applications submitted by developers.

“The services rendered under the term contract will include review of private sector development proposals submitted to the City under the Charlottesville Development Code,” reads a bid solicitation issued on March 6, 2024. (learn more)

James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services, said there is not a backlog of applications at this point.

“These services are being requested on an as needed basis – better to have and not need than to need and not have,” Freas wrote in an email on Wednesday. “With these services, it allows us to manage any influx in case load that might arise under the new zoning and gives us extra capacity and architectural design expertise to address other needs as we continue our transition into review under the new code.”

The request seeks professional design review services.

“The contractor shall provide professional staff with knowledge and experience in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design,” reads page 3 of the request. “These professionals shall have a clear understanding of zoning review procedure generally, and the Charlottesville Development Code in particular.”

Contractors would be asked to review applications for compliance and to be able to have a key eye for “issues of urban design and the interaction of buildings and sites with the public realm.” They’ll also be asked to recommend design alternatives, alternatives approaches to compliance, and to possibly suggest changes to the new zoning rules over time. 

There’s a fourth item requested in the RFP:

“Design information brochures, digital how-to guides, recorded webinars or other means of advising designers working with the Charlottesville Development Code,” reads this fourth item. 

Bids close on April 4 and there is a voluntary pre proposal conference on March 21. (learn more)

Other bids:

• The city has canceled a bid for a firm to construct a shared use path connecting Westwood Road with McIntire Park along Rugby Avenue. The sole bid received exceeded the project’s budget and a new solicitation will be entertained in the future. (learn more)
• The school system seeds bids to renovate Bathroom Area #1 in B Commons to have  non-gendered stalls, among other changes. Proposals are due on March 20. 
• The window closes on March 14, 2024 for firms “to provide anti-racism awareness training to the City’s Department of Social Services employees.” The curriculum is to include “eliminating microagressions” and “acknowledging privilege” and “increased capacity to ‘sit with discomfort’” and “having decision making conversations that automatically involve considerations of race and those marginalized.” (view bid page)
• The Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center seeks a firm to remove and replace 19 electrical panels at the facility. The closing date is March 27, 2024. (view bid page)
• The city is also seeking a firm that will lease the Parks and Recreation Department golf equipment and other services for the Meadowcreek Golf Course. This closing date is also March 27, 2024. (view bid page)
• There’s another request for companies to perform the second phase of the replacement of the roof at Charlottesville High School. Those not interested in technical details can skip to the next blurb, but I think these words will be interesting to read.
  
  “Replace existing roof in Phase 2 area.  Remove all existing EPDM membrane, flashing, insulation, and associated materials down to structural decking. Install new membrane, flashing, insulation, and associated material according to plans and specifications. Replace or repair roof drains, elbows, and piping where indicated according to plans and specifications.”
  
  Proposals are due on March 28. 

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