This request for proposals (RFP) is issued by the City of Fitchburg for the purpose of securing a qualified planning or design firm to develop a neighborhood plan for the approximately 280-acre future South Stoner Prairie Neighborhood. The plan development will include research and site analysis related to economic development positioning, residential capabilities, and market considerations. The plan development process will include landowner and stakeholder interviews, intergovernmental coordination, and public involvement. The plan will include a synthesis of the information and public involvement into multiple land use alternatives and the development of goals and strategies to implement the plan. The plan will be considered for adoption as part of Appendix A of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Located in the western portion of the City of Fitchburg, this neighborhood is located south of the existing urban service area.

The purpose of this plan is to create a neighborhood plan and development strategy to meet City of Fitchburg land use needs and position the City to submit applications for USA amendments to CARPC and the Wisconsin DNR to accommodate growth. The goals of the neighborhood plans are to develop balanced neighborhoods that will integrate compatible land uses, provide economic opportunities, and increase the municipal tax base, while balancing transportation and service needs, minimizing environmental impacts, and recognizing the variety of concerns and issues that may arise from the planning process.

This plan is necessary to evaluate the expansion of the central urban service area (CUSA). The Plan is to be used to determine which areas of the South Stoner Prairie Future Urban Development Area (FUDA) are suitable for urban expansion. The City of Fitchburg is working closely with the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) on a pilot process to better integrate neighborhood planning and urban service area amendments. As such, this plan is expected to also be used as the application(s) for urban service area amendments.

The goal of this project is to create a neighborhood plan that will guide future development. As such the plan should be thorough enough in the background data, evaluation, analysis, and recommendations that if a developer proposes a project that reflects the plan, it should be able to be approved and built with minimal changes.

Some broad goals of this plan are:

• Includes the necessary and relevant information, including technical data needed, to be used as an application for Urban Service Area Amendments (see CARPC's Service Area Amendment Application Packet).
• Organized similar to previous City of Fitchburg neighborhood plans and including all sections needed for the document to be used as the submittal for Urban Service Area Amendments to the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, including appropriate phasing of USA amendments identified and broken down within the plan. See the North Stoner Prairie plan for an example of plan organization — https://www.fitchburgwi.gov/468/North-Stoner-Prairie-Neighborhood-Plan.
• Includes an easy-to-use summary of pertinent recommendations or requirements to be used for development reviews by staff, decision-makers, and developers.

The City would like to complete the plan within approximately 9 months of starting the planning process.

The South Stoner Prairie area is about 280 acres, located just south of Lacy Road, east of Fitchrona Road, west of Seminole Highway, and north of Grandview Road. It is outside of the urban service area and identified as a FUDA. Current land uses are mostly agricultural with an active quarry site. Immediately adjacent to the northwest of the planning area are agricultural and business land uses that are identified as a mixture of residential, business, and park and open space future land uses.

Preliminary evaluation suggests that the South Stoner Prairie area is likely able to be served by gravity sewer via two interceptors. The Seminole Highway interceptor will likely ultimately serve the northern portion of the neighborhood, while the southern portion will likely be able to be served by the MMSD Nine Springs Valley Interceptor.

Stormwater infiltration will be an important goal of this plan, as the area is internally drained with no natural outflows and contains closed depressions, particularly near the boundary between the Badger Mill Creek and Story Creek subwatersheds. The eastern portion drains to the east, while the western portion drains northwest into Dane County wetlands near Goose Lake. The City of Fitchburg and Town of Verona have been working together to determine options to improve flooding under Fitchrona Road and in the Goose Lake area. There is one mapped intermittent stream in the planning area. Parts of this neighborhood are within the groundwater recharge zone for City of Fitchburg municipal wells.

Part of the western edge of the planning area borders the Town of Verona and is adjacent to large-lot residential and agricultural uses. The southern portion of the South Stoner Prairie neighborhood is adjacent to the Town of Verona, an area identified as a "City/Town Interest Area" in the City of Verona/Town of Verona boundary agreement. The entire planning area is within the attendance zone of Stoner Prairie Elementary School, Savannah Oaks Middle School, and Verona Area High School in the Verona Area School District system.

East of the neighborhood is the Badger State Trail, a major recreational corridor running north — south through the area. North of the neighborhood are the Military Ridge State Trail and Quarry Ridge Park, which includes a system of mountain biking trails. Local trails are also present in nearby developments Connectivity and continuation of these systems is expected.

While land use will be determined as part of this plan, much of this area may be suitable to accommodate light industrial development. Potential future land uses, dependent on the planning process, could include a mix of commercial/industrial land and residential continuing from north of Lacy. Part of the area is on land that is likely to be or is currently being quarried.

Development in this area is anticipated to occur within the next 5 to 10 years.