Planner I

CITY OF ELKHART - JOB DESCRIPTION

DEPARTMENT : Development Services

POSITION: Planner

DIVISION: Planning & Zoning

STATUS: Full-time

CATEGORY: Salaried, up to $77,800

FLSA: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Assistant Director for Planning

JOB SUMMARY
Compliance with the City Zoning Ordinance and perform other professional planning duties. Serves as lead for technical review, sign and zoning enforcement. Employee has significant impact on decisions and recommendations of the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Parks Department.


PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides professional staff support to the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and the Parks Department.
• Lead the Technical Review Process for the City's multiple departments
• Reviews proposed site plans.
• Prepares annexation reports
• Prepares long-range and short-range planning projects and special projects as needed.
• Updates the Comprehensive Plan.
• Updates land uses and zoning ordinance amendments.
• Assists with providing census and planning information to the general public and governmental agencies.
• Coordinates with Code Enforcement Offices, Assistant Director for Planning, Building Commissioner to inspect for zoning violations, develop procedures to ensure that zoning violations are corrected and development conditions are met.
• Ensure zoning violations are recorded and tracked in INCODE
• Works with Code Enforcement and Legal Department to correct zoning violations.
• Make decisions regarding selection of appropriate standards or ordinances.
• Research and prepare zoning and planning policies, studies, inventories, and master plans for the City.
• Assists with issuing zoning clearances and sign permits.
• Assists with answering questions pertaining to zoning and other planning.
• Assists with reviews of proposed site plans and changes in land use upon request.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Knowledge of floodplain administration and permitting.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration or closely related field.
• Master's Degree strongly desired.
• Minimum of four years of comparable experience with a Master's Degree counting as an equivalent of two (2) years of experience.
• AICP preferred.
• Valid driver's license is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of the Comprehensive Plan.
• Knowledge of urban planning and land use concepts.
• Knowledge of the Planning Acts of the State of Indiana.
• Ability to write staff reports.
• Ability to maintain and develop a database.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a departmental team.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND VISUAL SKILLS

• Ability to speak and write effectively.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, property owners and developers.
• Ability to drive a car.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a 40 plus hours per week standard office environment but will require out of office work involving site inspections and field sweeps.

POST OFFER TESTING REQUIRED
The City of Elkhart is a Drug Free Workplace. Therefore successfully passing a post offer drug screen is required (random drug testing may be conducted after employment).
Background checks producing acceptable BMV and criminal history reports required.

POLICY
STATEMENT
The incumbent is required to possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities, and the physical, mental, and visual skills described in this job description to perform the principal duties, responsibilities and essential job functions.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent. Principal duties and responsibilities are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job and "other" duties and responsibilities include those that are considered incidental or secondary to the overall purpose of this job.
This job description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by the Mayor. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.