Planner

Performs difficult professional level planning work on current and long-range planning projects.

Distinguishing Features of the Class
An employee in this class performs responsible entry to journey level planning work on a variety of projects for current and long-range planning efforts.  Work involves conducting plan review, assisting citizens and developers with various issues; conducting studies for land use, zoning, annexation or other issues; and providing staff assistance to advisory boards and the public.  Work involves providing technical guidance to department staff, and considerable public contact often in sensitive or emotional issues requiring judgment, firmness, and tact.  The role also includes developing a favorable relationship between the Town and the community.  Work is supervised by the Planning Director and is evaluated through direct interaction, the quality of work products, and the success of planning efforts implemented.

Essential Duties and Tasks

• Reviews new and existing development applications to include subdivision plans, site plans, rezoning applications, special and conditional use permits, variances, and administrative amendments to ensure compliance with the Town’s Unified Development Code, Comprehensive Plan and other long-term plans.
• Conducts pre-application meetings with prospective development applicants; actively participates in Technical Review Committee and provides comments on all development plans under review; coordinates with other departments to resolve conflicts or concerns regarding development applications and to ensure consistency among review comments.
• Researches and prepares detailed staff reports for decisions by management or boards regarding land use, zoning, housing, and environmental impact.
• Presents development applications and staff reports to Planning Board and Town Council including presenting in quasi-judicial hearings; answers questions; informs development applicants of Board decisions.
• Prepares legal ads for development applications and prepares notices to adjacent property owners to ensure compliance with state statutes.
• Responds to inquires from citizens, developers, engineers and others to answer questions and provide interpretation of Town codes.
• Works with other Town staff to improve development process and assists in creating checklists, forms and other internal processes for on-going improvement in the development review process.
• Performs final on-site inspections for development projects for new developments to ensure compliance with approved plans.
• Researches and prepares ordinance amendments for Town’s Unified Development Code and presents proposed amendments at Town Council meetings.

Additional Job Duties
Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the Town’s zoning, land use plan and other related ordinances and codes.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of community and public sector planning.
• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of research and data collection and the ability to present technical data and planning recommendations in public meetings.
• Considerable knowledge of governmental laws, programs and services pertinent to community and economic development and the planning process.
• General knowledge of computer programs, to include Microsoft Office products, Internet applications, AutoCAD and GIS.
• Considerable skill in the conflict resolution, meeting facilitation and public presentations.
• Ability to review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances and codes to determine compliance with regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions.
• Ability to enforce codes with firmness and tact.
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed.
• Ability to attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind.
• Ability to express ideas effectively in oral and written forms.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to compile and compute data and statistics, operate a computer, proofread materials, and do extensive reading.

Desirable Education and Experience
Graduation from college with a bachelor’s degree in degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Urban or Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Geography or closely related field and some experience in public sector planning, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.