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Melbourne Beach commissioners authorize negotiations with Place Planning for town planner role
Summary
After interviews with two planning firms, the Melbourne Beach commission ranked Place Planning first and voted 3–1 to authorize the town attorney to negotiate a contract with Place Planning, with Calvin Giordano & Associates designated as the alternate if negotiations fail.
The Melbourne Beach Town Commission voted to accept the results of its planning-services evaluation and authorized the town attorney to begin negotiations with Place Planning and Design to serve as the town’s contract planner.
Place Planning was ranked first in the commission’s aggregated scoring, which the clerk reported as 343 points to Calvin Giordano & Associates’ 295. Commissioners then approved a motion to authorize the town attorney to negotiate terms with Place Planning, with Calvin Giordano as the fallback if talks do not produce an agreement; the motion passed 3–1 with Commissioner Tim Reed absent.
Commissioners heard presentations and took questions from two finalists. Calvin Giordano & Associates explained its multi‑disciplinary bench of planners, engineers and landscape architects and emphasized coastal and resiliency experience. Jim Hickey said the firm maintains local technical capacity for floodplain and wetlands permitting and that it issues written zoning-interpretation letters and per‑project documentation when asked to do so. Place Planning’s Corey O'Gorman described a smaller practice that has supported Melbourne Beach since 2014 and emphasized core services such as zoning interpretations, variances, site-plan reviews and comprehensive‑plan updates.
During questioning commissioners emphasized process clarity and recordkeeping. One commissioner sought assurances that email exchanges and ad hoc consultations would be memorialized; Calvin Giordano representatives said they use formal written interpretation letters and keep project‑based files. Place Planning said its smaller office model focuses on hands‑on availability and continuity for the town.
The motion authorizing negotiations did not specify a final contract length; the commission instructed negotiators to lock in rates and term during negotiations and return with a proposed agreement or seek alternative firms if talks fail. The vote to authorize negotiations was recorded as 3 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstentions, and 1 absent (Tim Reed). The commission will return to the agenda for contract approval as required by town procurement rules.
Next steps: Town Attorney Ryan Knight will enter negotiations with Place Planning, and the commission will review any proposed agreement before final authorization.
