Category: 
RFQ
Organization: 
City of Royal Oak
Close date: 
Friday, May 30, 2025
To event remaining 44 days


Location: Royal Oak, MI

New Zoning Ordinance

Closing: 4:30 p.m. E.T on May 30, 2025

Summary

The City of Royal Oak is soliciting highly qualified consulting firms to submit a statement of qualifications and related information for the preparation of a new zoning ordinance. A new zoning ordinance serves to regulate and incentivize the development of private property toward the collective goals of the city’s recently adopted master plan which can be found at: www.planroyaloak.com

A new zoning ordinance will not be limited to a static text document. It must incorporate graphics-based illustrations and feature an integrated online (ArcGIS Online) mapping technology application to inquire and extract data regarding individual sites. 

The city may entertain the creation of a new zoning ordinance under a unified development code framework. Additional integration with permitting software would be advantageous. Ideally, the integration would result in a user interface that allows seamless and comprehensive approach to inquiry, apply, obtain, and track approvals for the full spectrum of project types.

Background

The Royal Oak Planning Commission, which includes the mayor and one city commissioner, adopted a new master plan at its April 8, 2025 meeting. The Royal Oak City Commission must still concur with and adopt the document. 

Staff developed and released this Request-For-Qualifications (RFQ) to engage a consulting firm to assist in developing a new zoning ordinance.

RFQ Contents

Responses to this RFQ must include:

  • brief written introduction.
  • lead firm’s history, experience, expertise, & current projects.
  • team member years of experience & areas of expertise.
  • summary and hyperlinks to zoning ordinances, form-based codes, & unified develop. codes created for other jurisdictions within the last several years.
  • summary and hyperlinks to recent consultants utilized for local knowledge.
  • description of firm and consultant’s expertise in:
    • Euclidean zoning
    • form-based codes (FBCs)
    • integrative unified development codes
    • land use & case law
    • geospatial databases
    • use of the following ESRI applications: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, & ArcGIS Online
    • technology applications capable of extracting zoning ordinance provisions and other data sets such as assessing and permitting records for specifically selected sites using ArcGIS Online
    • graphic illustrations
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) features
    • integration with eCode360 or similar online code portals
    • integration with online development submittal/review portals

Submission

An electronic (pdf format) response shall be submitted via email by no later than 4:30 p.m. E.T on May 30, 2025. 

Responses shall be emailed to Joseph M. Murphy, Director of Planning. The city will not accept any other means of submittal. A response email will confirm receipt of RFQ submittal.

Email to: joem@romi.gov
Subject: RFQ response – new zoning ordinance

Evaluation & Selection

City staff and members of the Royal Oak Planning Commission and Royal Oak City Commission may evaluate the responses to the RFQ‌ and select a narrowed list of consultants to participate in an interview process. Proposals shall be evaluated based upon prior relevant experience, knowledge and expertise, creativity, methodology, staff capacity, use of partner subcontractors & references. Strong preference will be given to proposals by lead firms partnering with subcontractors in areas of expertise.

The City of Royal Oak is not liable for, nor will it pay any cost incurred in preparing a proposal or the interview process.

Budget

The city’s projected budget for all components of the project is approximately $325,000 which includes a $50,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

Schedule

April 11, 2025            RFQ released
May 23, 2025            Deadline for questions
May 30, 2025            Response deadline (emailed to joem@romi.gov)
June – July 2025            Local review
August – September 2025             Interview of consultants
October - November 2025            Selection of consultants qualified to submit a response to an RFP

About the city

The City of Royal Oak is in southeast Oakland County, Michigan. The city’s 11.83 square miles has a population of approximately 58,211 according to the 2020 U.S. Decennial Census.

Flanked by I-75 on the east border, I-696 on the south and Woodward Avenue (M-1) on the west side, the city has excellent highway access for residents and visitors alike. Approximately 15 to 20 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, businesses and residents have easy access to the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, the busiest international crossings between the United States and Canada.

The City of Royal Oak has operated under the "council manager" form of government since its incorporation on November 8, 1921. This form of government provides that the city commission act as the legislative or policy making body. The city commission is composed of six commissioners and a mayor elected by the city-at-large on a nonpartisan ballot. Three commissioners are elected to four-year terms every two years to ensure experienced legislators at all times. The mayor is elected for a two-year term.

The city commission enacts ordinances, resolutions and regulations governing the city. The city commission also appoints members of various statutory and advisory boards and commissions, and the city manager. The city manager is the city's chief administrative officer and, as such, is held accountable for planning, coordinating, directing, and executing all the city's operations in a manner prescribed by law and conforming to the general policies and specific directives of the commission. The city manager also appoints and supervises most of the heads of departments of the city.