2023-24-18 - ENGINEERING/PLANNING SERVICES TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDIES

The City of Weslaco invites qualified firms, with expertise in preparing and updating subdivision, zoning, and building codes, to lead a process resulting in the preparation of a comprehensive new Subdivision, Zoning and Building Ordinances.  Qualifications received through the RFQ process will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of City staff and appointed officials in the City of Weslaco.

The city adopted a new Comprehensive Plan (Comprehensive Plan 2040) on July 5, 2022. The Comprehensive Plan update did not include any concurrent edits to the Subdivision and/or Zoning Ordinance to implement any of the changes adopted by the Comprehensive Plan. Rather than make additional patchwork edits to an extremely outdated Ordinances, the city is choosing to invest its resources into the development of a new comprehensive Subdivision, Zoning and Building Code Ordinances, to include feasibility studies for utility and street impact fees. In the interim, should any applications be received that seek to utilize any of the changes adopted by the Comprehensive Plan, applicants will be required to submit for a subdivision, zoning and building amendment to develop an interim zoning change to make zoning consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Therefore, the city will be utilizing the current Subdivision, Zoning and Building Code Ordinances and Map until the new Ordinances are completed.

The city is seeking a Consultant Team to assist in developing a Subdivision, Zoning and Building Code Ordinances that focuses on implementing the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan.  The City seeks to streamline and simplify its zoning districts and regulations. The Codes should be delivered in an editable, consolidated, user friendly format with tables and illustrative graphics that clearly communicate standards and regulations. The firm shall commit to participation by high-level professionals to ensure that all products are well-written and technically accurate. Completing the project within the specified time frame and budget is a key factor.