S19-019 - Comprehensive Plan Update Consulting Services

With the goal of continuing to develop a truly great community, the City of Leander, herein after “City”, seeks to enter into an agreement with a qualified Individual, Firm or Corporation, “Respondent”, to provide a range of consulting, planning and technical services to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan, herein “The Plan”, last updated in 2015.  The City seeks written Statements of Qualifications for services to update The Plan.
The successful Respondent shall present a completed comprehensive plan update to the Leander Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for adoption that charts the path for Leander to become an extraordinary place to live, work and play. 

As old ranch lands become new neighborhoods Leander’s population has exceeded 50,000 and is experiencing a growth rate of 11% annually.  Leander has been designated the fastest growing city over 50,000 in the country by the US Census Bureau and awarded the #1 Best Place to Raise a Family in Texas by Smart Asset in April of 2018 (https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-places-in-texas-to-raise-a-family).  The City’s final build-out population is estimated to be approximately 250,000 residents.Leander is part of the Texas Hill Country located just 25 miles north of Austin, Texas, a city of almost 1 million residents with a rich urban fabric.  The scenic Hill Country area is commutable to Austin, offers spacious, new and comparably affordable housing and 41 quality area schools.  The Leander Independent School District has become the fastest growing district in Texas.
Leander is part of the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and is home to the most northern stop of the Austin Metrorail, a commuter train that runs throughout the day.  The region is serviced by the burgeoning Austin/Bergstrom International Airport and is accessible by Highway 183, the 183A Toll Road and Ranch Road 2243.  Interstate 35 is just 6 miles east of the City.
Media Age:                                  33.7
Median Household Income:           $90,023
Median Home Value:                     $208,832 (http://www.city-data.com/city/Leander-Texas.html)        
Leander offers a new St. David’s Hospital branch and an Austin Community College Campus.  In addition to nearby Austin, Leander is also convenient to Highland Lakes, Lake Travis, regional wineries, Marble Falls, Fredericksburg and San Antonio that can all be enjoyed as day trips.
This proximity and quality of life has given rise to the explosive growth the City is experiencing and rapidly changing development priorities.