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Planning and Urban Design | 4-1
<br />Atkins | City of Sunny Isles Beach, RFQ No. 12-04-020006.027944.0512
<br />4. Approach/methodology
<br />Approach
<br />The City has requested consultant services to provide the
<br />following fi ve items:
<br />• Architectural and urban design
<br />• Comprehensive Plan and EAR based amendments
<br />• Corridor plans
<br />• Roadway design
<br />• Traffi c calming studies
<br />Previous experience has borne out the innate linkages that
<br />exist between these components. Therefore, to provide
<br />the City with the most effi cient and effective product, it is
<br />proposed that a new comprehensive plan be prepared for the
<br />City that includes the following elements:
<br />Element 01 – Introduction
<br />The fi rst “chapter” of the comprehensive plan summarizes the
<br />process to be utilized in the development of this important
<br />policy document. This will likely be the shortest portion of the
<br />document, as it does not represent new analysis or proposals.
<br />Element 02 – History
<br />Element 02 will document the history of the City, from its
<br />earliest days to the present. As much of this has likely already
<br />been written, some of this history will be briefl y summarized,
<br />with a more in-depth review and discussion of the City’s
<br />history between the most recent Comprehensive Plan and the
<br />present. This helps shape the contextual needs for the future.
<br />Element 03 – Mission Statement, Vision, Goals,
<br />and Objectives
<br />The comprehensive plan is the manifestation of the City’s
<br />collective desire to shape its own future. Therefore, it is
<br />vital to involve the public as much as possible to develop
<br />the foundation that will drive the Plan—its mission, vision,
<br />goals, and objectives. This will be completed utilizing three
<br />approaches:
<br />• Stakeholder Interviews – Atkins will facilitate this
<br />through a series of stakeholder interviews with key
<br />individuals as identifi ed by the City (elected offi cials, staff,
<br />homeowners, business owners, and various community
<br />leaders). An intense series of one-on-one and small group
<br />meetings is proposed for a 4- to 5-day period.
<br />• Town Hall Meetings – Concurrent with the above
<br />interviews, a series of listening sessions will be conducted
<br />to foster public sharing of their views of how the City
<br />should grow. These meetings may be conducted in the
<br />evenings over a 2- to 3-day period, during the same week
<br />the stakeholder interviews are held.
<br />• Online Survey – A brief online survey will be prepared
<br />to further gather the input of City residents, businesses,
<br />property owners, etc. This is especially useful if there are
<br />non-resident property owners who are interested in the
<br />future of the City, even if they are resident elsewhere.
<br />This information will be summarized in draft form on a project
<br />website. Additionally, interviews with the local press will be
<br />encouraged to further public involvement. Draft and proposed
<br />content for the mission statement, vision, and goals and
<br />objectives will be posted online, prior to be presented to the
<br />City for review, modifi cation, and adoption.
<br />Element 04 – Land Use Plan
<br />This is one of the more important elements in the Plan, as it
<br />will help guide the direction and character of the City. Rather
<br />than reacting to future development proposals, this element
<br />seeks to create a proactive envisioning of the City’s future.
<br />This will be accomplished with the following general steps,
<br />with all draft information being posted for public view online
<br />and at City Hall:
<br />• Existing conditions analysis (natural and man-made);
<br />• Opportunities and constraints analysis (strengths,
<br />weaknesses, opportunities, threats);
<br />• Draft alternative land use development concepts (for
<br />public and City review and comment); and,
<br />• Preferred concept land use plan (a hybrid of one or more
<br />of the above draft alternatives.
<br />Once the Preferred Land Use Plan is established, a list of the
<br />associated EAR-based Amendments will be developed. These,
<br />too, will be developed in draft form fi rst, available for City
<br />and public review and comment, prior to consideration of
<br />adoption.
<br />Element 05 – Access Plan
<br />The Access Plan will be co-developed concurrent with the
<br />Land Use Plan. In reality, it is not practical or feasible to do
<br />one before the other. Access—or lack thereof—defi nes
<br />development potentials for existing and future land uses.
<br />“Access” is also not restricted to vehicular access. The Access
<br />Plan will consider a variety of modes including bicycle,
<br />pedestrian, transit, and (where applicable) water. This will be
<br />accomplished with the following general steps, parallel with
<br />the Land Use Plan, with all draft information being posted for
<br />public view online and at City Hall:
<br />• Existing conditions analysis (roadways, railroads, bike
<br />paths, waterways, etc.)
<br />• Opportunities and constraints analysis (strengths,
<br />weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
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