Planner – City of Martinsville, VA

JOB TITLE: PLANNER
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

REPORTS TO: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
CLASSIFICATION: GRADE 15

FLSA STATUS: EXEMPT
PAY RATE: $59,868 MINIMUM

NATURE OF WORK
This is professional, administrative, and highly skilled technical work within the Department of Community Development. Work includes the coordination and management of various development, redevelopment, and special project activities. Three focus areas of the position include: urban planning, economic development, and housing/neighborhood revitalization. The work consists of the direction, coordination, and management of professional planning functions including comprehensive planning, neighborhood planning, project management, code enforcement/coordination, site development and design, business and industrial marketing, strategic planning, and basic master planning. Work also includes the research and administration of various state and federal grant programs [e.g. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Transportation Enhancement (ISTEA/TEA-21), and Historic Resources (DHR).
Position serves as staff support to the City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and other Council appointed Boards and Commissions. Work involves the continuous interaction with citizens, neighborhood and civic organizations, governmental agencies, and other city departments. Work is performed according to general guidelines and policies issued by the appropriate governmental agencies, and work is performed independently with minimal, general supervision. Work consists of the acquisition and effective use of a variety of professional consultant services, and includes planning, organizing, scheduling and assigning work activities. Coordination and guidance is exercised over professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Position serves as “deputy” Community Development Director during Director’s absence.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Coordinates, develops, presents, and administers various neighborhood and community planning projects and associated public participation processes. Responsibilities involve long and short-range planning activities including the preparation of land use plans, small area and corridor plans, community facilities and master plans, parks and greenway plans, neighborhood revitalization plans, economic development strategies, and housing rehabilitation programs.
• Organizes, directs, manages, and prepares complex technical planning reports and studies, including data collection and analyses, mapping, graphics, public information materials, and proposed ordinance amendments.
• Plans, directs, evaluates, and participates in development related projects with City staff and various public and private sector participants. Provides plan review assistance and site design recommendations to developers, contractors, consultants, etc.
  Coordinates and administers City’s Enterprise Zone Program. Prepares Zone Annual Report and updates the program design as needed. Promotes and markets Zone program to the local and outside business communities. Process state and local Enterprise Zone tax incentive applications. Consults area industry and business representatives with financial incentive information and offers assistance on a need basis.
• Works in a team environment with other planning/economic development professionals and provides guidance to supporting personnel and related boards and commissions.
• Conducts feasibility land use studies for residential, commercial, or industrial development/ redevelopment. Directs, coordinates, and organizes various updates to City Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, as well as prepares updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
• Investigates and prepares a variety of urban design projects centering around the natural and built environments. Conducts site analyses, small- and large-scale urban design studies, as well as develops streetscape and landscape design guidelines.
• Assists in the research, coordination, enforcement of various City development codes and ordinances, including zoning and subdivision.
• Initiates and administers various neighborhood revitalization programs including historic preservation/historic districts, housing rehabilitation/critical care, and brownfields redevelopment.
  Manages various City development projects [e.g. parks master plan, rails to trails greenway development, uptown renewal projects, etc.
• Researches, develops, and administers federal and state grant applications.
  Consults regularly with representatives from the area planning district commission and other regional and state planning agencies, as well as attends various related training symposiums and conferences to obtain information and keep abreast of new developments in the planning, community, and economic development fields.
• Prepares reports of new and revised planning programs for the City administration and general public; maintains zoning, enterprise zone, historic district, transportation maps and other related information files; advises the public on a variety of matters related to the development and redevelopment of land within the City.
• Assists the City’s Engineering Department with mapping and geographic information system (GIS) development.
• Performs any other related work as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF WORK

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in public administration, urban and/or regional planning, or closely related field and a minimum of three years experience in planning, economic development, or similar experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of modern urban planning methods and techniques.
• Considerable knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to the planning and construction of public facilities, as well as current trends and literature in the planning/economic development fields.
• Demonstrated experience in the management, coordination, preparation, and public presentation of neighborhood and community planning projects.
• Demonstrated experience in working with private developers, local governments, and with Council-appointed Boards and Commissions.
• General knowledge of building, fire prevention, property maintenance, and housing rehabilitation codes.
• Ability to interpret and analyze technical and statistical information, as well as to effectively communicate such information both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City Officials, developers, business owners, architects, contractors, representatives of other agencies and the general public. Must have demonstrated visionary and sensory skills in order to effectively communicate with citizens, employees, local area governments and agencies, and community organizations [e.g., Chamber of Commerce, PHCC, MURA, Gateway Streetscape, PHDC, Local School System, SVEDP, etc.].
• Thorough knowledge of economic development principles and techniques, public administration, grant preparation and administration, real estate development, marketing, and related federal and state law regulations with respect to Enterprise Zones.
• General knowledge of civil engineering, landscape architecture, and environmental studies.
• Demonstrated project management skills with ability to make formal presentations and coordinate diverse groups of people and organizations.
• General knowledge and experience with municipal budgeting and finance principles.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee normally will work in an office environment, but will occasionally work in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.