The City of Stafford adopted its original zoning ordinance in 1997. In 2017, Ordinance No. 1089 reorganized and codified zoning regulations as Chapter 102 – Zoning of the Code of Ordinances. Since that time, the ordinance has been amended incrementally to address rezonings, text amendments, and project-specific changes. Although functional, these cumulative amendments have resulted in organizational inconsistencies, procedural complexity, and provisions that lack clarity and internal coordination.

Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), the city seeks to retain a qualified planning consultant or multidisciplinary team to prepare a comprehensive rewrite of the City's Zoning Ordinance.

The City has also issued a separate, concurrent RFP for the preparation of a Comprehensive Plan Update. While these efforts will be procured independently, the City intends for both projects to be closely coordinated to ensure consistency between the Comprehensive Plan and the City's development regulations.

Respondents may submit proposals for one or both RFPs; however, separate cost proposals shall be provided for each.

The purpose of the zoning ordinance rewrite is to develop a clear, consistent, and user-friendly zoning ordinance that implements the updated Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map. The rewrite will modernize zoning districts and land use categories, clarify development standards, and streamline review procedures. The updated ordinance should be easy to navigate and use for property owners, applicants, City staff, and decision-makers. It should also support the City's redevelopment goals, including reinvestment along the US 59/I-69 and US 90A corridors, and respond to evolving commercial and mixed-use development patterns.

The City seeks a practical, implementation-oriented ordinance rather than a restatement of policy. The final document shall be clearly organized, easy to administer, and structured to allow for future amendments without requiring substantial reorganization.

The City anticipates a project budget consistent with comparable Texas municipalities undertaking comprehensive plan updates of similar scope.

Any questions regarding this RFP should be addressed to the City Planner, Silvia Bolivar via email at sbolivar@staffordtx.gov no later than ten (10) days prior to the submission deadline. Responses to questions will be posted on the City's website https://staffordtx.gov/Bids.aspx

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

Submission Requirements and Deadline

Respondent shall submit three (3) complete original proposals signed in ink and one (1) electronic copy in PDF format on a USB Flash Drive. Proposals shall be submitted in a sealed package clearly labeled with the project name, "RFP 2026-002 PROPOSAL FOR ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE."

To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM, Central Time, on Friday, May 22, 2026, and delivered to:

Roxanne Benitez
City Secretary
2610 South Main Street
Stafford, TX 77477

Proposals received after the deadline will not be accepted. Faxed or emailed proposals will not be considered. Postmarks prior to the deadline are not sufficient for acceptance. The City is not responsible for delays in delivery or for errors or omissions in any proposal.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The selected consultant will manage the project and prepare all required deliverables under the direction and oversight of the City Planner and the Director of Public Works and Development Services.

All work must comply with the Texas Local Government Code (Chapter 213 – Municipal Comprehensive Plans) and all applicable City of Stafford ordinances. This Scope of Work is intended to serve as a general framework; consultants are encouraged to propose refinements or additional tasks based on their professional expertise. The final Scope of Services will be developed in coordination with the selected consultant prior to contract approval.

At a minimum, the selected proposer shall complete the following tasks and deliverables:

1.Project Initiation and Zoning Ordinance Audit

The selected Consultant shall conduct a comprehensive audit of the City's existing Zoning Ordinance (adopted 2017, as amended), the official zoning map, and related development regulations. The audit shall evaluate:

• Review the City's current zoning ordinance, including but not limited to identifying all issues, omissions, inconsistencies, conflicts, overlaps, redundancies, and outdated provisions, and provide a written assessment of findings/opportunities for improvements;
• Review of administrative processes, including zoning amendments, Planned Development Districts (PDD), Specific Use Permits (SUP), variances, appeals, and site plan review;
• Review of the updated Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Map, and other relevant policies;

2. Public and Stakeholder Engagement

• The Consultant shall conduct and facilitate work sessions and public hearings with the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council at key project milestones. Regular coordination meetings with City staff shall occur throughout the project at a frequency established during the kickoff meeting.

3. Zoning Framework and Organizational Structure

The Consultant shall evaluate and restructure the City's zoning framework to ensure effective implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map. The proposed framework shall improve clarity, eliminate redundancy, and enhance enforceability for property owners, applicants, and decision-makers.

This task shall include:

• Evaluation and refinement of zoning district purpose and intent statements;
• Analysis and reorganization of permitted and conditional use tables;
• Modernization of use classifications and definitions;
• Review and revision of dimensional, development, and performance standards;
• Evaluation and revision of administrative procedures; and
• Development of a clear and logical organizational structure for the revised Zoning Ordinance.

4. Draft Zoning Ordinance Preparation

The Consultant shall prepare a complete draft Zoning Ordinance consistent with the approved framework and direction provided by City staff.

Deliverables shall include:

• A full draft ordinance document in editable digital format;
• A redlined comparison identifying substantive changes from the existing ordinance;
• Updated zoning districts, use tables, and development standards;
• Revised administrative procedures, definitions, and enforcement provisions;
• Graphics, tables, and illustrations necessary to improve clarity and usability; and
• Recommended zoning map revisions, if required to implement the Comprehensive Plan.

5. Review, Refinement, and Finalization

The Consultant shall incorporate feedback from City staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, and the public.

Deliverables shall include:

• Preparation of public hearing drafts
• Attendance at required hearings
• Final clean and redlined versions

6. Adoption Support and Implementation

The Consultant shall assist the City through the formal adoption process. Services shall include:

• Preparation of presentation materials for Planning and Zoning Commission hearings;
• Preparation of presentation materials for City Council hearings;
• Attendance at public hearings and work sessions;
• Preparation of adoption-ready ordinance documents and zoning map updates; and
• Incorporation of final revisions as directed by the city.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Each Request for Proposal (RFP) must include the following information:

Proposals for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite shall be clear, concise, and organized according to the format below. The proposal length shall not exceed twenty (20 pages, excluding cover letter, table of contents, and resumes).

a. Project Team and Key Personnel

Provide a narrative describing the qualifications and relevant experience of all key personnel assigned to the project, including any subcontractors or subconsultants.

The proposal shall identify the Project Manager, who will serve as the primary point of contact with the City.

If subcontractors are proposed, identify their role and describe the lead firm's experience working with those team members. Any proposed changes to key personnel after submission must receive prior written approval from the City.

b. Relevant Project Experience

Provide descriptions of no more than three (3) representative projects completed within the past ten (10) years that demonstrate experience with comparable municipal zoning ordinance rewrites.

For each project include:

• Project name and location
• Description of the project and relevance to the Stafford Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
• Year completed
• Description of services provided
• Client name and contact information
• Total project duration and budget
• Confirmation of whether the project was completed on schedule and within budget
• Graphics or examples from the final planning document

c. Project Approach and Methodology

Describe the firm's proposed approach to preparing the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite including:

• Data collection and analysis
• Public engagement strategy
• Coordination with City staff and elected officials

d. Cost Proposal

Provide a detailed cost proposal including:

• Labor hours and billing rates for each key staff member
• Total project cost broken down by major task or phase
• Identification of reimbursable expenses such as travel, printing, or meeting materials

The total cost proposal should include all anticipated expenses necessary to complete the work described in the Scope of Services.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Project Approach (30 Points)

• Overall understanding of the City of Stafford Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and proposed methodology
• Realistic timeline reflecting adoption following the Comprehensive Plan Update
• Detailed description of draft deliverables, review drafts, public hearing drafts, and final adoption version

2. Project Team Qualifications (20 Points)

• Qualifications of the firm and any subconsultants
• Identification of project team members and roles
• Resumes that emphasize direct experience drafting zoning ordinances within Texas municipalities

3. Experience with Similar Projects (20 Points)

• Demonstrated experience with zoning ordinance rewrites
• Experience with small to mid-sized Texas municipalities preferred
• References for comparable projects

4. Project Management (15 Points)

• Detailed project schedule and milestone timeline
• Approach to managing scope and schedule
• Experience of the proposed Project Manager

5. Understanding of Local and Regional Context (15 Points)

• Familiarity with the City of Stafford
• Demonstrated understanding of Stafford's development pattern and redevelopment context
• Familiarity with Texas statutory planning requirements

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Proposals shall include the following:

• Letter of Interest
• Project Approach
• Project Team Qualifications
• Experience with Similar Projects
• Project Management Plan
• Statement describing understanding of local and regional context
• References

Only submittals conforming to the provisions of this RFP will pass the initial screening. Submittals that fail to meet minimum requirements may be rejected without further consideration.

The review committee may request interviews, presentations, or additional information from selected firms prior to final selection.