Brownhelm Township, Ohio - Land Use Plan Update RFP

BROWNHELM TOWNSHIP

OHIO

Land Use Plan Update Request for Proposal (RFP)

Date of Issue: May 8, 2025
Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025

Introduction
The Brownhelm Township Trustees Board is seeking to hire professional consulting services (“Consultant”) to assist in developing an updated township Land Use Plan (LUP). 

As part of this process, the Township Board would like to establish a steering committee to oversee a new LUP review, associated discussions, and oversee new LUP development and publication. The Township Board is also seeking the Consultant’s recommendations to modernize the Township’s zoning map, language, and standards within the current zoning map and guide that will better reflect the new LUP.

Community Description
Brownhelm Township was established in 1824, and its history is richly steeped in agriculture and farming. The current land use plan reflects its slow transition from an active farming community to an increasing rural residential one. Large open farmlands are present throughout the township and sizeable woodlots are common in the interior of the undeveloped land.

Rural residential areas provide the look and feel of large, countryside home spaces. No significant commercial use areas are present in the township currently.

Brownhelm Township is in northern Lorain County and is bordered by the following townships and cities: Amherst Twp., Amherst City, New Russia twp., Henrietta twp., Vermilion Twp. in Erie Co., and the City of Vermilion. Brownhelm is also located approximately 30 miles west of Cleveland, north of Akron and Mansfield, and 30 miles east of Sandusky which makes accessing a major city easily achievable in any direction of travel.

Given the Township’s regional position relative to State and Federal highways, the increase in traffic over the last decade indicates the Township’s rural nature appeals to many prospective homeowners and landowners who desire the rural living environment with access to employment in larger metropolitan areas.

Currently Brownhelm Township has no concentrated commercial use areas, but with the future installation of Baumhart Road sewers, areas around Route 2 and the Turnpike interchanges at Baumhart Rd. would certainly attract developers.

The Township wishes to maintain its rural atmosphere, yet it realizes growth and change are inevitable. The Township would like to encourage smart, reasonable growth and open space development to maintain its rural atmosphere for years to come. Aligning this thought process means the goal of an updated LUP would reflect controlled growth while also preserving the “countryside” feel of rural, open spaces.

Township Information is available online on the website at https://www.brownhelm.us

Project Objectives
Objectives for the Township’s updated LUP should:

 * Be clear with easily read verbiage.
 * Be supported by past and present, accurate and projected future comprehensive data.
 * Involve the Township Community.
 * Use applicable laws, guidelines, and ordinances to benefit the Community.
 * Provide methods to measure against outlined strategies and initiatives.
 * Address key zoning and growth issues the Township is currently facing and provide recommendations for any necessary modifications.
 * Incorporate industry practices in planning, design, implementation, and environmental initiative consideration, in such a manner the Township can sustain these actions in the future.
 * Provide the framework necessary to shape managed growth in both business and residential districts with a clear understanding that density and green space must be implemented and controlled.

Services Scope
The following is a list of components to serve as a framework for the LUP planning process and final document. Components should include:

   * Review the Township’s current LUP and recommend those areas that require updates, rewrites, or complete overhaul studies to reflect the current environment.
 * Review existing Township Zoning Map and Regulation. Provide recommendations for either document that would make implementing an updated LUP more effective.
 * Develop a community communications plan for the duration of the LUP update and should include Township Trustees Board and Township residents at a minimum.
 * Develop a milestone progression plan that outlines significant checkpoint reviews for the Steering Committee and Trustees to measure development progress.
 * Provide draft excerpts of the revised LUP in manageable segments for Steering Committee and Trustee review.
 * Prepare a Final LUP document and associated presentation that includes proposed zoning map/district revision for final Township Trustees Board approval.

Anticipated Schedule
The goal is to have a new, updated Township LUP no later than May 11, 2026.
Proposed timeline guide:

      Request for Proposal                                            May 12, 2025
      Receive Statement of Work Submissions          July 1, 2025
      Initial Selection of Top 3 candidates                  July 14, 2025
      Final Selection                                                       August 9, 2025
      Negotiate Agreement/Trustee Approval          September 8, 2025
      Consultant Kickoff Meeting                                October 2025
      Plan Development                                               October 2025-April 30, 2026
      Present Final to Township Trustee Board       May 11, 2026

Submission Requirements
All submissions must include but are not limited to the following elements:

 * Identify the consultant’s name, project manager’s name, location address, email address, and telephone number
 * Copies of 2 similar projects worked in the last 5 years
 * Project approach and proposed timeline
 * Cost estimate

Please submit statements of work either via email or mail to the Township by 4PM Thursday, July 1, 2025.

Please email submissions to dan@brownhelm.us or mail to:
Brownhelm Township
Attn. Dan DePalma, Trustee
Land Use Steering Committee
1940 North Ridge Rd.
Vermilion, Oh 44089

If you have any additional questions or need assistance regarding this RFP, contact Dan DePalma via text or call 440-773-7262 or email dan@brownhelm.us 

Consultant Services Contract
The Township Trustees Board reserves the right to make modifications to this RFP if any clarification, correction, or change is necessary. All prospective consultant applicants will be notified of any modification prior to submission deadline. The Steering Committee will review all submissions and provide a recommendation for contract to the Township Trustees Board for approval.

The Township Trustees Board will enter into a simple standard contract with the chosen Consultant for the services requested contained in this document. Any additional Consultant requests should be identified and agreed to prior to contract execution and The Township Trustees Board will review each request. All contracts will be signed by an Authorizing Official.

Freedom of Information Act
All information submitted to the Township Trustees Board in response to the RFP will be categorized as a public record and will be subject to disclosure under the Ohio Freedom of Information Act, subsequent to applicant selection.