Associate Planner

Associate Planner

This position is primarily tasked with providing in-depth information to the public, developers, and City officials regarding City land-use code and comprehensive plan policies; completing moderately complex planning assignments including site inspections; and attending relevant meetings and giving presentations as required. The position provides more in-depth information regarding the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land-Use requirements to potential developers, often representing the Planning Division during preliminary development meetings and is significantly involved with larger, more complex planning assignments with primary focus on short-range planning assignments. The Associate Planner may assist the Senior Planner on some long-range planning assignments. Note: The City has one position open for either an Associate Planner or Senior Planner, based on applications received. Reviews of applications and interviews will happen throughout the recruitment process.

Essential Duties

• Able to perform the functions of Assistant Planner.
• Oversees moderately complex planning projects particularly residential, commercial, and industrial projects involving the development of vacant parcels and redevelopment of underutilized parcels including performing technical reviews involving analyzing and evaluating site, architectural and landscape plans (including presentation before the Design Review Board), preparing written project reports and analyses with appropriate recommendations.
• Coordinates and performs research and analyses pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan, subarea plans, grant programs, related municipal ordinances and policy; prepares related reports and recommendations, and renders professional advice regarding planning issues.
• Writes and reviews initial studies; coordinates the preparation of environmental impact reports, recommends determinations of the environmental impact of projects; reviews environmental documents of other agencies.
• Coordinates and attends various meetings for the purpose of providing and receiving information regarding projects and proposals; as assigned, attends and represents the City's interests or policy position on issues including making presentations before such bodies as the Planning Commission and Design Review Board, and the boards, task forces, and legislative bodies of other governmental agencies.
• Conduct site inspections, including determining if projects are in compliance with laws, regulations, and ordinances; makes recommendations on changes.
• Provides information on city, regional, and state environmental, zoning, and subdivision requirements to consultants, developers, property owners, and the general public.
• Assists in the annexation of unincorporated areas within the City's Urban Growth Area including overseeing the census of newly annexed areas.
• Prepares initial environmental analyses for development projects and draft mitigation measures and monitoring programs.
• Promotes the department's mission to provide professional customer service to both residents and developers alike.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or lower-level as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, and trends in the field of urban planning and design
• Knowledge of relevant mathematical concepts
• Knowledge of the application, modification, and interrelationships among ordinances, policies, standards, procedures, and practices
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Knowledge of the functions and practices of City and other governmental work units with which coordination is required.
• Ability to perform varied and responsible assignments involving the use of initiative and judgment under periodic supervision
• Ability to collect, analyze, and prepare reports and recommendations pertaining to moderately complex issues, and to prepare visual displays such as maps, graphs, and illustrations
• Ability to interpret laws, policies, procedures, regulations, maps, specifications, site plans, graphs, and statistical data.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those encountered in the course of work.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
• Bachelor's Degree in architecture, urban planning, environmental planning, or closely related field. Master's Degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience involving comprehensive planning, zoning and development services
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job
• Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Accreditation, preferred
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), preferred
• Experience working with form-based code, preferred
• Valid Washington State Driver License and driving record acceptable to the City.
• Successfully pass a background check.

Supplemental Information

This position is represented by the Arlington City Employees, Local 2849 of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2, AFSCME.

The City of Arlington offers a comprehensive benefit package for regular full-time employees. [Note: Represented employees should consult their union agreements for specific information about their benefits]. Insurance Benefits: Medical Insurance: choice of Regence Healthfirst 250, Regence HDHP, or Kaiser Permanente $200. Employer pays 90% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Kaiser Permanente and 80% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Regence Healthfirst 250. Employer pays 100% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Regence HDHP in addition to providing a Health Savings Account Contribution. Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, $26,000 Life Insurance Policy for Employee, Long Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Health Reimbursement Account for Opt Out Insurance Incentive Program, Vacation Accrual starting at 96 hours per year, Sick Leave - 96 hours per year, Eleven (11) paid Holidays and two (2) Floating Holidays per year, Jury Duty/Bereavement Leave/Military Leave, Longevity pay. Investment and Retirement Programs: State of Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), 457 Deferred Compensation (voluntary) 2% Employer Paid Deferred Compensation Match. Voluntary Benefits: Colonial Life or AFLAC optional plans for life insurance, cancer, hospital, critical illness, disability, and accident coverage, Legal Shield: legal and identity protection, Direct Deposit, Public Student Loan Forgiveness.