Board of Estimate and Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on August 17, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on August 17, 2026, authorizing the Mayor to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Interboro Partners, LLC for the Preparation of the City of Mount Vernon's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update - (the total compensation payable to Interboro Partners, LLC pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement shall not exceed Nine Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($955,000.00), subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the availability of appropriated funds and the expenditure authorized herein shall be charged to the Department of Planning and Community Development's Contracted Outside Services account, Budget Line 8020.405, as appropriated in the adopted 2026 City Budget); and the same is hereby approved.
City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH INTERBORO PARTNERS, LLC
FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE CITY OF MOUNT
VERNON’S COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE
Whereas, by correspondence dated August 14, 2026, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning & Community Development formally requested authorization for the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon, to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Interboro Partners, LLC for the preparation of the City of Mount Vernon's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon recognizes the importance of maintaining a modern, comprehensive, predictable, transparent, and legally defensible land use regulatory framework that reflects the City's current planning objectives, development patterns, community needs, and long-term vision; 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 of Mount Vernon adopted its first Comprehensive Plan since 1968; and
Whereas, the 2025 Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision for the City concerning land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability, neighborhood preservation, and community character, while advancing goals related to transit-oriented development, environmental resilience, housing choice, and equitable economic growth; and
Whereas, the 2025 Comprehensive Plan specifically identifies modernization of the City's Zoning Ordinance as a critical implementation priority necessary to achieve the Plan's goals and to establish a contemporary regulatory framework for future development and redevelopment throughout the City; and
Whereas, the Department of Planning and Community Development conducted a competitive Request for Proposals ("RFP") process in accordance with the City's Procurement Policy governing the procurement of professional services; and
Whereas, the RFP was publicly advertised through OpenGov and other appropriate public notice methods to encourage broad participation by qualified planning and zoning consulting firms; and
Whereas, consistent with the City's procurement procedures, responsive proposals were evaluated pursuant to a prescribed evaluation methodology that considered, among other factors, technical qualifications, relevant experience, project approach, staffing, organizational capacity, and cost; and
Whereas, following the initial evaluation, interviews were conducted with all responsive and qualified firms, and the two highest-ranked firms were subsequently interviewed by the Mayor and members of the City Council prior to the final consultant selection; and
Whereas, based upon its response to the RFP, demonstrated technical expertise, qualifications of its proposed project team, extensive experience preparing zoning ordinances for municipalities of similar complexity, and thoughtful and tailored approach to addressing Mount Vernon's unique planning and development objectives, Interboro Partners, LLC was determined to be the firm best qualified to perform the required professional services; and
Whereas, the City desires to retain Interboro Partners, LLC to provide professional planning, zoning, land use, technical, environmental, public engagement, and related services necessary to prepare a comprehensive update to the City's Zoning Ordinance; and
Whereas, the total compensation for the Professional Services Agreement shall not exceed Nine Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($955,000.00); and
Whereas, the services provided by Interboro Partners, LLC shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
1. A comprehensive review and diagnostic analysis of the City's existing Zoning Ordinance;
2. Preparation of a modernized Zoning Ordinance consistent with the City's 2025 Comprehensive Plan;
3. Development of updated zoning districts, land use regulations, dimensional standards, use tables, design standards, and administrative procedures;
4. Preparation of buildout analyses, redevelopment feasibility assessments, land use analyses, infrastructure capacity evaluations, and implementation recommendations;
5. Preparation of draft and final zoning maps and associated regulatory documents;
6. Preparation of fiscal analysis, impact fee and value capture frameworks, and related recommendations;
7. Preparation of a Development Manual and other implementation tools;
8. Management and facilitation of a comprehensive public engagement process, including stakeholder meetings, public workshops, community presentations, and presentations before the City Council;
9. Preparation and coordination of environmental review documentation required pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"), including preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement ("GEIS"), if required; and
10. Preparation and coordination of all final documents necessary for legislative consideration and adoption of the updated Zoning Ordinance; and
Whereas, the proposed project will provide the City with the technical, planning, legal, environmental, and zoning expertise necessary to modernize development regulations that have become outdated and no longer fully reflect the City's adopted vision, current planning practices, or evolving development patterns; and
Whereas, upon completion, the updated Zoning Ordinance is anticipated to establish a modern, user-friendly, and legally defensible regulatory framework that supports responsible investment, protects neighborhood character, promotes economic development, advances housing opportunities, strengthens environmental resilience, and provides greater predictability for residents, businesses, developers, property owners, and City staff; and
Whereas, funding for the Professional Services Agreement has been appropriated in the adopted 2026 City Budget and shall be paid from the Department of Planning and Community Development's Contracted Outside Services account, Budget Line 8020.405; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that entering into a Professional Services Agreement with Interboro Partners, LLC is in the best interests of the City and its residents and will advance the implementation of the City's 2025 Comprehensive Plan; now, therefore, be it
Section 1. Authorization. The City Council of the City of Mount Vernon hereby authorizes the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon, to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Interboro Partners, LLC for the preparation of the City of Mount Vernon's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update.
Section 2. Scope of Services. The Professional Services Agreement shall provide for the professional services and deliverables described herein and in the City's RFP and Interboro Partners, LLC's accepted proposal, including the review and diagnostic analysis of the existing Zoning Ordinance; preparation of a modernized Zoning Ordinance and zoning maps; development of updated zoning districts, regulations, standards, procedures, and implementation tools; technical and fiscal analyses; environmental review and SEQRA documentation, including a GEIS if required; public engagement; and preparation of all documents necessary to support legislative adoption of the updated Zoning Ordinance.
Section 3. Compensation. The total compensation payable to Interboro Partners, LLC pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement shall not exceed Nine Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($955,000.00), subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the availability of appropriated funds.
Section 4. Funding. The expenditure authorized herein shall be charged to the Department of Planning and Community Development's Contracted Outside Services account, Budget Line 8020.405, as appropriated in the adopted 2026 City Budget.
Section 5. Agreement Terms. The Professional Services Agreement shall contain such terms and conditions as are deemed necessary and appropriate by the Corporation Counsel and other authorized City officials, consistent with this Ordinance, the RFP, the selected proposal, applicable procurement requirements, and all applicable federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 6. Mayor Authorized to Execute Documents. The Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby authorized and directed to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Interboro Partners, LLC, together with such ancillary documents, certifications, notices, amendments, and other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this Ordinance, subject to review and approval as to form by the Corporation Counsel.
Section 7. Compliance with Law. All services performed pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement shall comply with all applicable federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, procurement requirements, and applicable provisions of the City Charter, including all requirements relating to public contracting, environmental review, and the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
Section 8. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, 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, section, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
Section 9. 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.