Heath staff seeks consultant to rewrite zoning and subdivision codes; RFQ open through Jan. 30
January 21, 2026 | Heath, Rockwall County, Texas
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City planning staff on Monday asked the Heath Planning and Zoning Commission to review a request for qualifications to hire a consultant to rewrite the city s zoning regulations and subdivision ordinance, saying the effort will align local codes with the comprehensive plan adopted in June 2025. Applications are posted through the procurement portal and on professional channels; staff said the deadline is Jan. 30 and it hopes to recommend a contract to the City Council by the March meeting.
The work aims to replace inconsistent, outdated code language last overhauled in 2005 and to make the land-development code searchable and easier to use. "We want codes that are clear," a city staff member said, listing priorities that include preserving Heath s rural, outdoor character, refining the Town Center Overlay, codifying drought-tolerant landscaping and dark-sky strategies, and addressing emerging issues such as short-term rentals and accessory dwelling units.
Why it matters: staff told commissioners the rewrite is required to implement the recently adopted comprehensive plan and cited the Texas Local Government Code as the statutory authority for aligning zoning with the plan. The update could affect lot and block typologies, subdivision sequencing, engineering design standards (the city s current design standards date to 1991) and the town-center overlay that city leaders see as central to future growth.
Scope, procurement and timeline: staff said they reached out to about a dozen consultant firms, posted the RFQ on the Texas Municipal League and American Planning Association channels and will accept submittals on the procurement portal. "Applications are open until the end of this month, January 30," a staff member said; staff plans roughly four weeks of evaluation, interviews of shortlisted firms, and to bring a contract to council by its late-March meeting. Staff estimated the consultant s work could take about six to eight months, while acknowledging schedules are flexible.
Role of the commission and public engagement: commissioners asked what role Planning & Zoning will play in selecting a consultant. Staff said selection and contract negotiation are handled by staff and council under state procurement rules for RFQs, but that staff will provide a short list and can hold an introductory workshop so P&Z members can offer feedback. "We can bring that shortlist to you all and let you all see that," staff said. Staff also described planned public engagement steps, including workshops and committee review to incorporate input from boards, commissions and residents.
Checks, deliverables and enforcement limits: commissioners pressed for staged deliverables and regular check-ins so the city does not accept a final product that misses expectations. Staff said the contract will include milestones and review points (schematic, design development and final documents), and that deliverables should include editable digital ordinances, supporting materials, graphics and tables. Commissioners also sought clarity on what the city can require: staff emphasized the city cannot directly regulate HOA governance but can require plat language and plan-development conditions that make maintenance or common-area responsibilities enforceable where legally permissible.
Questions and concerns raised: commissioners voiced concerns about fairness in the selection process and whether prior staff relationships could create "backdoor deals." A commissioner urged assurance the RFQ process will be open and competitive; staff replied the RFQ is qualifications-based (no price proposals in the initial submittal) and that the city will negotiate a contract only after selecting the best-qualified firm. Commissioners also asked how consultants would use artificial intelligence; one commissioner said, "I would hate to hear that someone's going to bill us and... just throw it in AI and let AI do it," and staff responded that AI could be a starting tool but not a substitute for human-led community engagement and local expertise.
Next steps: staff will continue accepting RFQ responses, evaluate and interview candidates, and return to the commission with a short list in early March so commissioners can provide input before the contract goes to council. The commission adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
The work aims to replace inconsistent, outdated code language last overhauled in 2005 and to make the land-development code searchable and easier to use. "We want codes that are clear," a city staff member said, listing priorities that include preserving Heath s rural, outdoor character, refining the Town Center Overlay, codifying drought-tolerant landscaping and dark-sky strategies, and addressing emerging issues such as short-term rentals and accessory dwelling units.
Why it matters: staff told commissioners the rewrite is required to implement the recently adopted comprehensive plan and cited the Texas Local Government Code as the statutory authority for aligning zoning with the plan. The update could affect lot and block typologies, subdivision sequencing, engineering design standards (the city s current design standards date to 1991) and the town-center overlay that city leaders see as central to future growth.
Scope, procurement and timeline: staff said they reached out to about a dozen consultant firms, posted the RFQ on the Texas Municipal League and American Planning Association channels and will accept submittals on the procurement portal. "Applications are open until the end of this month, January 30," a staff member said; staff plans roughly four weeks of evaluation, interviews of shortlisted firms, and to bring a contract to council by its late-March meeting. Staff estimated the consultant s work could take about six to eight months, while acknowledging schedules are flexible.
Role of the commission and public engagement: commissioners asked what role Planning & Zoning will play in selecting a consultant. Staff said selection and contract negotiation are handled by staff and council under state procurement rules for RFQs, but that staff will provide a short list and can hold an introductory workshop so P&Z members can offer feedback. "We can bring that shortlist to you all and let you all see that," staff said. Staff also described planned public engagement steps, including workshops and committee review to incorporate input from boards, commissions and residents.
Checks, deliverables and enforcement limits: commissioners pressed for staged deliverables and regular check-ins so the city does not accept a final product that misses expectations. Staff said the contract will include milestones and review points (schematic, design development and final documents), and that deliverables should include editable digital ordinances, supporting materials, graphics and tables. Commissioners also sought clarity on what the city can require: staff emphasized the city cannot directly regulate HOA governance but can require plat language and plan-development conditions that make maintenance or common-area responsibilities enforceable where legally permissible.
Questions and concerns raised: commissioners voiced concerns about fairness in the selection process and whether prior staff relationships could create "backdoor deals." A commissioner urged assurance the RFQ process will be open and competitive; staff replied the RFQ is qualifications-based (no price proposals in the initial submittal) and that the city will negotiate a contract only after selecting the best-qualified firm. Commissioners also asked how consultants would use artificial intelligence; one commissioner said, "I would hate to hear that someone's going to bill us and... just throw it in AI and let AI do it," and staff responded that AI could be a starting tool but not a substitute for human-led community engagement and local expertise.
Next steps: staff will continue accepting RFQ responses, evaluate and interview candidates, and return to the commission with a short list in early March so commissioners can provide input before the contract goes to council. The commission adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
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