REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
THROUGH: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager
Planning and Development Department
BY: CASEY LAUDERDALE, Supervising Planner
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an amendment to the consultant services agreement with Wallace, Roberts, and Todd, LLC., for professional planning and environmental analysis services related to the update of the Tower District Specific Plan in the amount of $170,590.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of a first amendment to a consultant services agreement with Wallace, Roberts, and Todd, LLC. (WRT) for professional planning and environmental analysis services related to the update of the Tower District Specific Plan (TDSP).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 28, 2022, the City Council unanimously voted to enter a contract with WRT for services relating to the TDSP update for an amount of $400,000. Through the initial work on the update, additional needed services were identified and require an amendment to the existing contract. These services include the creation of consistent regulations for entertainment uses, an update of Tower design guidelines, analysis of housing capacity impacts, and the production of a comprehensive plan document.
BACKGROUND
The TDSP was adopted in 1991 after an extensive community-driven process. The plan was created after community members from the Tower District expressed a desire to establish a clear vision for future development in the Tower District. The TDSP was an instrumental planning document when it was created and crafted a clear vision for the neighborhood. The plan area has undergone many changes since its creation, and the community has again expressed the need to recast a vision and set forth clear implementation measures to allow the vision to become a reality.
On April 28, 2022, the City Council approved a contract with WRT to provide professional planning and environmental analysis services to assist staff in completing the TDSP update.
Since that time and through initial work and outreach on the TDSP update, a need for an enhanced scope of services been identified. This enhanced scope will include the following tasks:
1. Tower District Entertainment Regulations: This task is for the creation of consistent regulations for entertainment and late-night uses in the Plan Area. Work performed under this task will include meetings with stakeholders, review of existing rules and case studies leading to recommendations for the most effective mechanism of regulation, pertinent boundaries for application, and draft regulatory language This task also includes relevant environmental evaluation. The completion of this task will help promote a safe and open environment for the Tower District.
2. Tower District Design Standards. This task is to transform the existing Tower District Design Guidelines into objective design standards to ensure compliance with SB 35 and SB 330, which will allow future development to remain consistent with the Tower’s established architecture. Work performed under this task will include review of existing documents, identification of subjective standards and re-writing of such standards to be objective. This will also include updating currently outdated information, such as references to old Zone Districts. The completion of this task will allow for continued application of design review as a tool to help maintain the desirable and walkable character of the Tower District - upholding a core motivation of the original Specific Plan.
3. Housing Crisis Act (SB 330) Analysis. This task is to provide analysis of the Design Standards and Specific Plan Update to ensure that no net housing loss is created through such standards and/or proposed policies and land use designations. Work performed under this task will include review of the standards, policies, and land use map for impacts to housing capacity. Should an impact be found, the consultant will propose solutions to ensure no net loss of housing capacity. The completion of this tasks ensures compliance with State law and the promotion of housing production within the central city limits.
4. Comprehensive Plan Document. This task is to create a unified and singular Specific Plan document, providing a significant upgrade from the current scope of placing the Update as an Appendix to the 1991 Plan document. Work performed under this task will include bringing the Plan into an editing software, creating professional design aesthetics and user-friendly formatting, and production of a redlined version. The completion of this task will make it easier for both members of the public and City staff alike to read, interpret, and apply the tenants of the Plan.
Staff recommends approval of this additional scope of services in the amount of $170,590. Execution of this amendment will allow this scope of services to immediately be incorporated into the current and ongoing TDSP update.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Several sub-consultants have a local office and are therefore considered local pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109.
FISCAL IMPACT
Available funds from the General Fund to be used.
ATTACHMENT: Exhibit A - WRT TDSP Consultant Services Agreement - First Amendment