The City of Cedar Hill, Texas, seeks statements of qualifications from firms or individuals (the "Respondent") to develop a Unified Development Code (UDC) that integrates and modernizes the city's zoning, subdivision, and tree preservation ordinances. The purpose of this Request for Qualifications is to update and streamline Cedar Hill's development regulations in alignment with the vision established in the 2022 Comprehensive Plan and other adopted long-range and strategic plans. The selected firm will guide the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Staff through a comprehensive analysis, incorporating current development regulations, plans, policies, and conditions, to develop a single document that consolidates all development-related regulations within the city, including zoning, subdivision rules, design standards, and other site development guidelines, essentially providing one comprehensive source for all aspects of land development.

Statements of Qualification should convey a detailed approach to developing a unified development code, along with a robust community and stakeholder engagement program that provides a participatory process to build consensus for an ordinance update.

About Cedar Hill

Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in southwest Dallas County and northwest Ellis County, Cedar Hill, Texas is a thriving suburb known for its tree-lined rolling hills, abundant green spaces, big city amenities, and small-town charm. A perfect blend of family, community, and business, Cedar Hill is a home-rule city with a desire to capitalize on its assets. Located in Dallas County, with a portion within Ellis County, Cedar Hill is approximately sixteen miles from the City of Dallas, Texas. Cedar Hill is positioned ideally in the region with access to surrounding areas via US Highway 67 and the future construction of Loop 9. Cedar Hill is part of the Best Southwest area, along with the cities of Duncanville, Desoto, and Lancaster. The potential for future development in the Best Southwest area presents an opportunity for Cedar Hill to capture its share of that growth.

Cedar Hill was founded around 1846 by a small group of settlers from the Peters Colony, who created the largest settlement in the area. Settlers came to the area seeking a place to build homes, socialize, worship, and conduct business. Today, the estimated population of Cedar Hill is 50,904 (NCTCOG). Cedar Hill has experienced consistent and moderate population growth with a roughly 2 percent average annual growth rate. The median resident age is 35.3 years. The median household income is $84,132 and the average median value of owner-occupied housing is $273,200. As Cedar Hill continues to grow, the community's challenges include aging infrastructure and extension of new services to certain areas, aging housing stock, the need for redevelopment and revitalization of commercial properties along the major corridors, ensuring the quality of development of the City's remaining undeveloped properties, and supporting existing neighborhoods to ensure their sustainability.

Over the last three decades, Cedar Hill's stable growth has made it a prime location for retail, commercial, technological, industrial, healthcare, residential, and recreational opportunities. The City's quality of place encourages new residents, employers, entrepreneurs, and visitors to explore. Planners, economists, and site selectors have identified Cedar Hill as one of Texas's brightest spots for economic development. No longer a pioneering sub-market to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, today, Cedar Hill is a first-choice investment for families and business owners alike. The Cedar Hill City Council has set a goal to retain 25% of the City's land mass as open space. The community's support for open space, access to nature, and the area's abundant natural beauty make Cedar Hill unique in the North Texas region.

In 2022, the City adopted the Cedar Hill Next Comprehensive Plan, a long-range policy document outlining the City's vision, goals, and strategies for future growth and development. The plan serves as a blueprint guiding organized, efficient, and sustainable development. It provides a framework for future development decisions and sets the direction for change. To best facilitate the vision established in the comprehensive plan, the City's development-related ordinances need to be updated and organized into a Unified Development Code for ease of implementation and consistency.

The city last initiated a major comprehensive update of the Zoning Ordinance in 2001 and completed it in 2002. The tree preservation ordinance has not been updated since its initial adoption in 2007. The subdivision ordinance has not been comprehensively updated since its initial adoption in 1986. A Unified Development Code will provide a single document for all development-related regulations, acting as a central guide. This critical deliverable must meet five primary goals:

• Update, correct, and streamline outdated regulations,
• Conform with legislative changes,
• Address development trends and uses that were not contemplated at the time of original ordinance adoption,
• Ensure regulations support conservation and sustainability
• Align ordinances with the vision established in the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted longrange plans

Key achievements will include removing regulatory barriers to development, improving the efficiency of the development process, addressing new development types in housing, retail, and industry, aligning processes and regulations with varying stages of a city's life cycle (infill/redevelopment/adaptive reuse) and developing a code that is easy to comprehend and implement for consistency in enforcement and interpretation.

Statements of Qualifications should convey the Respondent's experience and expertise in developing unified development codes, including the ability to integrate zoning, subdivision, and development regulations into a cohesive framework. Respondents should highlight their approach to community and stakeholder engagement and provide examples of the successful participatory processes that have built consensus for ordinance updates. The selected Respondent will be responsible for leading a collaborative process to develop a Unified Development Code that aligns with the vision established in the City's Comprehensive Plan and related long-range plans, including but not limited to:

• Master Thoroughfare Plan (adopted 2022, amended 2024)
• Downtown Complete Streets Master Plan (2020)
• West Midtown Plan (2023)
• Water and Wastewater Master Plan (2024)
• Park Master Plan (2019; undergoing an update)
• Economic Development Strategic Plan (2024)

The Development Code update will culminate with the adoption of an ordinance by the City Council to provide direction to City officials, staff, residents, businesses, and the development community to introduce an ordinance that will affect physical change by enforcing regulations that offer a streamlined, consistent resource for developers and the community.