RFP for City of Mount Vernon, NY Comprehensive Update of Zoning Ordinance

Description

Mount Vernon residents and businesses have some of the fastest commute times to Manhattan in the region. This access, when combined with proximity to multiple parkways and highways, has created significant development pressures and unique opportunities for equitable growth, reinvestment, and neighborhood stabilization.The City’s diverse population, combined with a predominantly residential land use pattern, particularly towards the northern end of the City, is an asset the City seeks to preserve. Known as “the City of Homes,” many of Mount Vernon’s residential properties are architecturally distinct and historic, despite a lack of any local historic preservation or landmark ordinances. In addition, while the commercial tax base is limited, Mount Vernon has one of the last remaining (sizable) industrially zoned areas in Westchester County. It is also one of the few industrially zoned areas still capable of being served by a navigable waterway.In November 2025, following a multi-year, two-phase planning process that included extensive public engagement, technical analysis, and intergovernmental coordination, the City adopted its first Comprehensive Plan since 1968. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability, and community character, with a strong emphasis on transit-oriented development, equity, and environmental resilience. Implementation of this vision requires a comprehensive modernization of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which has not been fully updated in several decades and no longer reflects current planning best practices or the City’s adopted policy framework. Through this Request for Proposals, the City seeks a qualified consultant team to prepare a clear, modern, and legally sound zoning ordinance that will serve as the primary regulatory tool for implementing the Comprehensive Plan and guiding Mount Vernon’s growth and