Planning Specialist

Planning Specialist

The City of Danbury is announcing an Open Competitive Exam for the position of Planning Specialist. The Planning Specialist performs advanced administrative, technical, and paraprofessional planning functions in support of the Planning & Zoning Department. The employee coordinates key departmental processes, supports land use regulatory functions, conducts research and preliminary plan reviews, and serves as a primary liaison to internal and external stakeholders. Work requires the application of specialized knowledge of municipal planning, zoning regulations, and land use procedures. The employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Planning, the employee is familiar with the work routine and uses initiative to carry out recurring assignments independently, with specific instruction. Reviews and checks of the employee's work are applied to an extent sufficient to keep the supervisor aware of progress, and to ensure that completed work and methods used are technically accurate and that instructions are being followed.

The employee does not have supervisory responsibilities.

The employee has regular access to confidential department information, including personnel records, legal documents, and sensitive land use materials.

Consequences of errors, missed deadlines, or poor judgment may include significant monetary losses, waste of material, etc.

The work requires examining, analyzing, and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations, or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. The work requires the ability to interpret and apply planning and zoning regulations, evaluate land use information, and determine appropriate courses of action. The employee must exercise judgment in coordinating processes, preparing official documents, and responding to public inquiries.

The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices, and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. The work involves coordinating multiple planning functions, applying technical knowledge of land use regulations, and managing detailed administrative processes. Tasks require the integration of planning concepts, regulatory requirements, and procedural standards.

Work is performed in a municipal office setting with frequent interruptions and interactions with the public and other City departments.

The employee interacts frequently with the public, developers, contractors, attorneys, and representatives of outside agencies. Work involves explaining regulations, coordinating planning processes, and resolving issues requiring tact, diplomacy, and professionalism. Internal relationships include regular communication with City staff to coordinate reviews, schedules, and departmental operations.

Duties generally do not present occupational risks to the employee.

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

1. Coordinates administrative and technical functions for the land use commissions, including preparation of agendas, legal notices, meeting schedules, minutes, and official records in compliance with statutory requirements.
2. Manages departmental workflows, including permit tracking, application intake, and public notices.
3. Conducts independent research on property history, zoning compliance, and land use regulations; prepares written reports and summaries for staff and commission review.
4. Prepares official records and certifies them. The official records include, but are not limited to, transcripts, Returns of Record, and legal documents for court appeals and administrative proceedings.
5. Coordinates the responses to the FOI requests.
6. Assists in responds to public inquiries, including zoning questions, application procedures, and planning information, ensuring accurate interpretation of regulations.
7. Maintains and organizes departmental databases and records, including tax abatements, site plan reviews, modification requests, and other planning documentation.
8. Drafts correspondence, reports, and communications for the Director of Planning and land use commissions.
9. Coordinates scheduling, appointments, and project timelines for departmental staff and planning activities.
10. Coordinates referrals, zoning compliance matters, and planning initiatives.
11. Supports planning projects and long-range planning efforts, including data collection, mapping, and preparation of informational materials.
12. Maintains the department's payroll records and processes all bank deposits, and similar financial tasks.
13. Represents the department in the process of assigning street addresses and serves as the contact person for E-911 Coordinator, Post Office and Telephone Company.

Coordinates the department's grant applications and assists in managing them.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: An Associate's degree in Planning, Geography, Public Administration, or a related field is required; a Bachelor's degree is preferred. Candidates must have three (3) to five (5) years or more of progressively responsible experience in planning, zoning, municipal administration, or related technical work.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills Required:

Knowledge:

• Understanding of planning principles, development review processes, and regulatory procedures.
• Experience in office software (i.e., word process, spread sheet, and database management applications).
• Working knowledge of GIS applications, and permit tracking systems.

Abilities:

• Proven ability to maintain productivity and composure in a fast-paced, high stress environment.
• Ability to interpret maps, surveys, plans, and regulatory documents.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize work, and meet statutory deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate planning processes and maintain accurate official records.

Skills:

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in data processing and document management.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

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 position's essential functions.

Physical Skills: Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as ledger books, photocopies and computer paper.

Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment, keyboarding, filing and the sorting of papers.

Visual Skills: The employee is required to routinely read and interpret written documents, maps, and computer screen for analysis and understanding. The employee is rarely required to determine color differences.