Lake Placid council accepts single RFP, moves to contract Stonehenge for planner services

The Lake Placid Town Council voted to accept the single proposal submitted in response to a request for planning-services proposals and authorized staff to finalize a contract with Stonehenge Land Development Consultants.

The RFP closed with one submission from Stonehenge (led by Dana Riddell), which the town administrator and staff recommended because Stonehenge already provides monthly planning services under the town’s interim arrangement and brings local experience with Highlands County and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Staff noted alternative past arrangements: Highlands County previously provided limited planning services under an interlocal agreement and the town briefly used consultant services from another planner (costs cited for a three-month period in 2022).

Council members discussed contractor rates and the amount of work needed for code updates and ongoing planning review. Planner Dana Riddell explained the fixed monthly fee is intended to provide stable, predictable planner availability while acknowledging that complex projects and text amendments may require additional hours; she emphasized that as a contract planner she can provide focused services without the town-wide duties that previously came with a staff position.

Why it matters: planning capacity affects how quickly land-use applications, text amendments and development reviews move through the system. The contract approach allows Lake Placid to obtain expertise while avoiding the cost and benefits obligations of a full-time staff hire.

Next steps: staff will finalize a professional-services agreement consistent with the RFP terms and bring the executed contract back for the record.