https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/Bids.aspx

INTRODUCTION

The Development Services Department of Santa Rosa County is seeking qualified consultants to submit qualifications for the creation of a Master Plan for the Greater Pace Area. Consultants will be expected to have an expertise in land value economics, property and retail tax analysis and community design, specifically the ability to promote development patterns that secure a community's fiscal condition while reinforcing a stronger sense of place. The consultants will also have expertise in Florida land use planning, zoning and codes, public engagement through both traditional and non-traditional means, and housing and densities analysis. The county's primary goal is to develop the Master Plan to address all aspects of development within the greater Pace area, including architectural standards, densities and intensity, signage, parking, public uses, open space, gateway enhancement, etc. The presentation of the final plan should include an array of visual images, including 3-D images that aid decision makers in delivering a clear and data-driven understanding of the economics of place. Additionally, the final master plan product should be developed utilizing story map or a similar application format.

The county, hereby requests responses, expressions of interest and statements of qualifications from firms or individuals with credentials in land value economics, property and retail tax analysis, planning, urban design, architecture, and economic consulting, who are interested in performing professional consulting and planning services to accomplish the scope of work for the services outlined below and will reflect the outcome of an outreach strategy including community and stakeholder involvement process to be completed as deemed appropriate by the county.

BACKGROUND

Pace is an unincorporated community in Santa Rosa County, Florida located in the northwest Florida Panhandle and serves as the western gateway to Santa Rosa County. Pace is predominantly a bedroom community for mostly U.S. Military personnel, Federal Civil Servants, local population, retirees and defense contractors. The area encompasses the unique communities of Pace, Floridatown, Pea Ridge, Wallace, and Mulat which are connected by manmade and natural systems to form what is referred to as the Pace Area. Concerns about the impact of development led the County to initiate this planning effort.

Although the area has seen tremendous growth it has maintained what residents describe as a "small town feel." Each community in Santa Rosa County is different and a community-based plan that looks at ways to guide future growth is one way to ensure that the character of the community is not lost as new development occurs. Santa Rosa County is also well known as a family-friendly destination.

Pace is located 12 miles east of Pensacola, the second oldest city in the state of Florida, and about 48 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. The community is roughly centered on the junction of U.S. Route 90 and State Highway 197. It is part of the Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Pace area has historically been one of the fastest growing areas of the county. During the past 12 to 15 years the population of Pace has grown from roughly 10,000 to an estimated 52,000 people.

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners serves as the legislative and policy-setting body of Santa Rosa County. The board of county commissioners consists of five elected commissioners who are elected at-large to serve and represent one of five districts and the county as a whole as the governing body for Santa Rosa County.

FRAMEWORK FOR THE GREATER PACE AREA PLAN

Our challenge is to develop a plan that realizes the greater Pace areas full potential. The intent of the Master Plan is to provide a document that reflects the relative fiscal potency of development patterns and to aid decision makers in delivering a clear and data-driven understanding of the economics of place using 3-dimensional representation of space. Additionally, the plan should establish an overlay for land use that improves the quality of life and investment opportunities in the greater Pace area. Within that context the plan will provide policy, programmatic and fiscal direction for the county as we reshape our urban landscape.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Santa Rosa County desires to create a Greater Pace Area Master Plan. The services that a successful applicant will provide include the examination of and recommendations on the following elements as appropriate for the greater Pace area:

1. Property and Retail Tax Analysis
2. 3-D Fiscal Analysis
3. Architectural Standards
4. Land Use
5. Zones and Codes
6. Densities
7. Housing
8. Parking Needs
9. Traffic Circulation
10. Economic Incentives
11. Transportation
12. Pedestrian Accessibility
13. Streetscape/Furniture/Signage
14. Enhancing the Pace Area Gateways
15. Recreational Open Space

Major changes planned within the Pace area over the next several years include:

• Pace – Pea Ridge Connector Road
• Six-laning of US HWY 90
• Implementation of the Pace – Pea Ridge Bicycle-Pedestrian Plan

Study Area

Santa Rosa County Greater Pace Area comprised of District 1 and a portion of District 3.