Contract documents

July 11, 2024

Both regional and urban planning projects involve research, analysis, and decision-making activities that allow owners and planners establish criteria and guidelines for future development of public areas. These planning projects typically begin with identifying goals and objectives, based on input from impacted communities and other stakeholders. Overall, these projects aim to improve the quality of the regional or urban environment through design, planning, and public policy.

AIA Contract Documents New C205™-2024, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Regional or Urban Planning

The recently updated AIA Document C205-2024, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Regional or Urban Planning replaces B212™–2010, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Regional or Urban Planning. It is not a stand-alone document but pairs with AIA Document C103™-2015, Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Consultant without a Predefined Scope of Consultant’s Services. However, parties may also pair C205-2024 with other AIA Contract Documents owner-consultant agreements.

C205-2024 contains a robust initial information section to allow the parties to:

· Identify objectives of the project, such as goals for land use, public policy, growth strategies, or redevelopment and revitalization;

· Identify and describe the area to be considered as part of the planner’s services;

· Identify and describe anticipated sustainable objectives and climate resiliency objectives;

· Name the consultants and sub-consultants who will be retained by either the owner or planner; and

· Stipulate the owner’s anticipated schedule for the project.

C205-2024 is not a fixed scope of services document, but rather, a menu of services from which the parties may select, based on the needs of the project. The menu includes services related to information, research, and data gathering, including collecting input from the community and other stakeholders through various methods like charrettes, webinars, and social media. The menu now also includes services for the planner to conduct research and analysis of demographic and social justice factors, including population trends, household composition and disabilities, minority status and primary language, labor force and employment, socioeconomic status, homelessness, and availability of affordable housing. The planner may then use this information, along with other criteria, to analyze the impact of the project on the area, adjacent properties, and affected communities.

The Plan

The result of the planner’s services is a written document called the “Plan.” It includes elements such as:

· Conceptual drawings;

· Objectives, goals, and criteria for the project;

· Descriptions of the services performed;

· Plan alternatives, analysis and recommendations, and implementation guidelines and strategies;

· Accompanying materials such as maps, plats, charts, diagrams, and explanatory matter; and

· Presentation-quality rendered images of the preferred plans.

To learn more about the newly released C205-2024, be sure to visit these links:

· C205–2024 Summary

· C205-2024 FAQs

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AIA Contract Documents has provided this article for general informational purposes only. The information provided is not legal opinion or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship of any kind. This article is also not intended to provide guidance as to how project parties should interpret their specific contracts or resolve contract disputes, as those decisions will need to be made in consultation with legal counsel, insurance counsel, and other professionals, and based upon a multitude of factors.