Principal Planner

Urban Planning Professional

Under general direction of the Planning, Zoning & Building Director, performs professional and administrative work in the field of planning. The incumbent writes staff reports on matters relating to urban design, streetscape design, land use, current planning, comprehensive planning, and economic development. The employee also supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate planners and other technical employees engaged in current and comprehensive planning. Work is reviewed through conferences and written reports for adherence to established policies and procedures.

Essential Job Duties

• Collects, compiles, tabulate and analyze data and factual materials fundamental to a comprehensive planning program.
• Assists in the formulation and administration of the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations.
• Researches and prepares zoning and land development regulations consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and presents to the Planning and Zoning Board and the City Council for consideration.
• Prepares and processes Comprehensive Plan amendments through the appropriate State, Regional, County and City entities.
• Conducts planning and zoning studies.
• Reviews site and permit plans for compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Responds to email, telephone, or in-person inquiries; greets the public, development industry, and city officials; handles citizen complaints; disseminates information on planning, zoning, and development regulations; provides information on departmental services and functions.
• Administers and coordinates the activities of subordinate personnel engaged in current and long-range planning.
• Coordinates review of plans under the City's Redevelopment Review Process and serves as Technical Advisory Committee Chairperson.
• Coordinates the preparation of Board agendas, public notices and staff reports. These boards include the Planning and Zoning Board and any other Boards, Committees or Working Groups.
• Clarifies and determines planning issues for staff, reviews subordinates' staff reports.
• Reviews and issues, Certificates of Use, and Zoning Letters.
• Performs field inspections as necessary.
• Attends City Council, Planning and Zoning Board, and makes presentations on specific projects and studies. This work includes the preparation of memorandums, resolutions, ordinances and related back-up materials.
• Represents the City at various regional and county land use and transportation planning technical committees.
• Assists the Planning, Zoning & Building Director in planning, organizing, assigning, directing, and reviewing the activities of professional, technical, and clerical in the Planning and Urban Design Division.
• Interacts and works with county, regional, state, special districts, civic associations, and other private organizations.
• Must effectively and positively represent the City in delivering and performing work with colleagues and clients, irrespective of gender, race, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or sexual orientation.
• Must establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers.
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED:

· Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, or closely related field

· Five (5) years of comprehensive planning experience, current planning, urban design, or landscape architecture

PREFERRED:

· Master's Degree

· Six (6) years of comprehensive planning experience, current planning, urban design or landscape architecture.

· AICP certification

Additional education and experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be substituted for the above requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

· Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of comprehensive, urban, and environmental planning and zoning.

· Considerable knowledge of the laws, ordinances, and codes relating to land use plans and development regulations.

· Knowledge of "Green" building concepts and techniques.

· Knowledge of economics, public finance and sociology as it applies to urban planning.

· Ability to work with city, county, state, and federal agencies in implementing plans relating to planning, streetscapes, landscaping, and urban design.

· Ability to supervise, oversee and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel.

· Ability to prepare, evaluate and present oral and written reports based on research and special studies.

· Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, graphically, orally and in writing.

· Ability to read and understand plats, maps, architectural drawings, and similar relevant documents.

· Knowledge of software packages such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Suites, GIS, and the techniques of preparing maps and charts.

· Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, administration, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical abilities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, write, hear, speak, and be required to exert up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. May require fingering: picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision, peripheral, and depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Work is performed primarily in an office environment that requires the employee to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Employee works in air-conditioned office surroundings most of the time with occasional trips outside the office for inspections, site analyses and other observations. Due to the nature and non-specific location of the work environment, tasks include potential for intermittent exposure to disagreeable elements, e.g., heat, humidity, inclement weather. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.

Required Education and Background Information: Look over the announcement carefully to determine your eligibility. Please note minimum education and experience requirements. Closed competitive positions are open only to employees while open competitive positions are open to anyone who meets the minimum qualifications for the position. Evidence of a GED test score is required if submitted for high school diploma. Applicants are responsible for clearly documenting work experience and/or providing all relevant information at the time of application. Additional information will not be accepted after the announcement closing date.