SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Community Development Director, the position is responsible for providing professional planning services within the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. Planner I performs a variety of complex current and long-range planning functions including development plan review, administration of the City’s Zoning and Subdivision regulations and implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following (additional duties may be assigned as needed): 

1. Manage land use applications including, but not limited to, rezoning, site improvement plan, subdivision procedures (preliminary plat, final plat), special use review, lot split, etc. 
2. Conduct research, analysis, and interpretation of technical reports, plans and documents for complex land development projects. 
3. Prepare and present staff reports to the appropriate hearing entity (Board of Directors, Planning Commission, and Board of Adjustment). 
4. Review permit applications for compliance.  
5. Process variance request. 
6. Answer questions and provide information to the public, city staff, engineers, architects, developers and other interested parties regarding the Comprehensive Plan, land use, and zoning codes.
7.  Assist in oversight, implementation, and amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
8.  Participate in regional planning efforts and or projects.  

      9. Assist with special projects or other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum qualifications include the following: 

Knowledge of: 

1. Research techniques related to the field of urban planning. 
2. Comprehensive planning. 
3. Principles and practices of urban planning. 
4. Current literature, sources of information and recent developments related to the field of urban planning. 
5. Municipal and State land use law. 
6. Current planning related computer software programs including, but not limited to Word, Adobe PDF editor, Excel, , Power Point, and ArcGIS. 

Ability to: 

1. Interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to Community Development Department programs and functions. 
2. Read and interpret technical plans and reports. 
3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, City staff, engineers, architects, developers, and other interested parties regarding planning related items. 
4. Codify land development regulations. 
5. Perform professional planning work with a minimal supervision. 
6. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 
7. Prepare basic planning related maps and graphics. 
8. Keep accurate and detailed planning related records and files. 
9. Apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.   
10. Make verbal/graphical presentations to the Planning Commission and Board of Directors. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Minimum education and/or experience requirements include a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field or three years of private or public planning experience.   A 

master’s degree may substitute for one year of the required planning experience.  Applicants who can provide a combination of education, experience and training that is equivalent to the minimum qualifications will also be considered.   

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

Must possess a valid driver’s license. 

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 regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit and taste or smell.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this position include close and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.