City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE
OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES TO
PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON ZONING ORDINANCE
Whereas, in correspondence dated February 17, 2026, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Community Development formally requested authorization to prepare and release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional consulting services to prepare a comprehensive update to the City of Mount Vernon Zoning Ordinance; and
Whereas, the City Council of the Mount Vernon recognizes the importance of maintaining a modern, legally defensible, and user-friendly Zoning Ordinance that advances the health, safety, and general welfare of the community; and
Whereas, in November 2025, following a multi-year, two-phase planning process that included extensive public engagement, technical analysis, and intergovernmental coordination, the City adopted its first Comprehensive Plan since 1968 (the “Comprehensive Plan”); and
Whereas, the Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability, environmental resilience, and community character, with an emphasis on transit-oriented development, equity, and sustainable growth; and
Whereas, implementation of the Comprehensive Plan requires a comprehensive modernization and restructuring of the City’s existing Zoning Ordinance to ensure consistency with the adopted vision and contemporary planning standards; and
Whereas, the Department of Planning and Community Development has determined that the services of a qualified and experienced professional planning consultant are necessary to assist in preparing a comprehensive update to the Zoning Ordinance; and
Whereas, the scope of services will include, but not be limited to, a full diagnostic review of the existing Zoning Ordinance; development of updated zoning districts; preparation of use tables, dimensional standards, design guidelines, and administrative procedures; and completion of technical analyses including buildout studies, redevelopment feasibility assessments, infrastructure capacity evaluations, and land-use scenario modeling; and
Whereas, the selected consultant will be responsible for managing and facilitating a robust public and stakeholder engagement process to ensure transparency and meaningful community participation; and
Whereas, the consultant shall also prepare and coordinate all required environmental review pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), including preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), addressing potential impacts on transportation, infrastructure, schools, municipal services, historic resources, and environmental sustainability; and
Whereas, funding for such consulting services is available in the adopted 2026 City Budget under Contracted Outside Services Budget Line 8020.405; and
Whereas, the City Council desires to authorize the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with the City’s procurement policies, including publication through OpenGov and appropriate public notice in The Journal News (LoHud), to ensure compliance with applicable laws and transparency in the procurement process.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Authorization to Release Request for Proposals. The City Council hereby authorizes the Department of Planning and Community Development to prepare and release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional consulting services to prepare a comprehensive update to the City of Mount Vernon Zoning Ordinance.
Section 2. Scope of Services. The RFP shall solicit proposals from qualified planning consultants to perform, at a minimum, the following services:
1. Conduct a comprehensive diagnostic review of the existing Zoning Ordinance;
2. Draft updated zoning districts, use tables, dimensional standards, design standards, and administrative procedures;
3. Conduct citywide and neighborhood-level analyses, including buildout studies, redevelopment feasibility assessments, infrastructure capacity evaluations, and land-use scenario modeling;
4. Manage and facilitate a comprehensive public and stakeholder engagement process;
5. Prepare and coordinate all required environmental review documentation pursuant to SEQRA, including a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS); and
6. Provide best-practice guidance to support equitable development, environmental resilience, multimodal transportation access, economic vitality, and long-term growth management.
Section 3. Procurement Process. The release of the RFP shall be conducted in accordance with the City’s established procurement procedures. The RFP shall be published through OpenGov, and appropriate public notice shall be placed in The Journal News (LoHud) to ensure broad public awareness and compliance with applicable requirements.
Section 4. Funding. Funding for the consulting services authorized herein shall be paid from the Contracted Outside Services Budget Line 8020.405 as adopted in the 2026 City Budget.
Section 5. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract.