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Downtown Owasco Riverfront
The City Takes Steps toward Final Design of Downtown’s Owasco Riverfront
City sends Statement for Qualifications for Comprehensive Plan
Scope of Work
Summary of the Plan’s Preliminary Scope
The City Takes Steps toward Final Design of Downtown’s Owasco Riverfront
The City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) is circulating a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select a qualified consulting firm (or team) for the preparation of final design and construction documents for Owasco Riverfront Park, a community recreation facility that will occupy up to 15 acres along a ½ mile stretch of the Owasco River waterfront in the center of downtown Auburn. The architectural and engineering work is being funded under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund (through the New York State Department of State).
To select a consultant, the OPED will assemble a qualifications review team that will consider all submissions of qualifications and subsequently interview a short list of selected consultants. Following interviews, the review team will identify a preferred consultant and negotiate a fee for services for consideration by the Auburn City Council. The New York State Department of State (DOS) and the City Council of Auburn, New York, has final determination and approval of the preferred consultant and subsequent award of a consultant contract, which is anticipated to happen in late May.
Download the “Request for Qualifications” document.
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City sends Statement for Qualifications for Comprehensive Plan
The City of Auburn is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from firms that are both knowledgeable and experienced in the preparation of municipal comprehensive plans. Recently, a review of the City’s Housing Code, Zoning Code, and Subdivision Regulation revealed several discrepancies and shortcomings within the Code, which ultimately affect the City’s land development policies. Furthermore, the current socioeconomic environment requires that the City evaluate its approach to retaining existing residents and businesses while attracting new ones. To this end, the City intends to hire a qualified firm to complete a new Comprehensive Plan.
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Scope of Work
The chosen firm or team will acknowledge that the following scope will likely be refined as a result of Council, Committee, and Staff input. The City is open to suggestions, which consultants believe would be of value to producing a viable Comprehensive Plan. The City anticipates that the completion of the Comprehensive Plan will require approximately 12 to 15 months.
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Summary of the Plan’s Preliminary Scope
- Conduct a scoping meeting with representatives from the Auburn City Council, Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and City staff to discuss and agree on a final scope of work and a project timeline.
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- Review the 1991 Comprehensive Plan and identify relevant sections of that plan that should be refined and included in the new plan.
- Review existing neighborhood plans for the Owasco-Osborne, Five Points, and Dunn & McCarthy Neighborhoods.
- Review various other planning document or studies, such as Housing Market Study for the City of Auburn; A Call to Action: A Blueprint for our Region’s Future; The Downtown Auburn Economy: Policy for Growth and Downtown Design Guidelines.
- Collect and analyze information related to existing land use, commercial and industrial growth trends, residential growth patterns, zoning and subdivision regulations, sewer and water infrastructure, transportation, schools, historic resources, waterfront opportunities and population characteristics.
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- Develop and implement a citizen participation plan to solicit input and provide information to community members throughout the planning process. This participation plan may include meetings, questionnaires, workshops, focus groups, and/or a website.
- Develop a vision for the City that would include specific goals for the community. Citizen participation should assist with the prioritization of these goals.
- Develop a visual preference survey to enable residents and community members the ability to “see” implications of various types of land use policies.
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- Prepare a plan that contains program elements related to sustainable planning and design- including traditional neighborhood design and urban forestry; land use and development patterns; residential development and housing- including design standards for affordable housing; waterfront development; downtown mixed-use development; open space and recreation, historic preservation, public facilities and infrastructure, alternative energy and transportation.
- Incorporate, as appropriate, the “Areas of Focus” as defined by A Call to Action: A Blueprint for our Region’s Future. Areas of specific relevance may include Cultural Development, Infrastructure Technology, Riverfront Development and Job Development.
- Identify viable redevelopment areas within the City, including infill development and adaptive reuse opportunities. Provide land use recommendations and feasible redevelopment plans for the identified areas.
- Define a clear direction and policy for the way in which development should occur over the next five, ten and fifteen years.
- Develop design standards for residential, commercial, and mixed-uses, including Owasco River corridor development and preservation.
- Provide policy guidance and recommendations to encourage and promote home ownership and renovation within the City.
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- Define a specific implementation plan for immediate, short and long-term action items.
- Complete required SEQRA documentation and provide guidance regarding the SEQRA review and subsequent determination.
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