What are the responsibilities and job description for the Planning Technician I position at City of Virginia Beach?
The City of Virginia Beach is recruiting for a Planning Technician I to join the Zoning Division of the Planning & Community Development Department. This position will assist with the Board of Zoning Appeals Board, items that will be heard by the Planning Commission and City Council, and all other planning responsibilities within the Zoning Division.
Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Coordinate and provide technical, research, geographic information system (GIS), other graphics, and document management support associated with BZA applications and other business processes.
- Ensure each BZA application is linked to an address and parcel number.
- Receive and process various submittal types, such as, but not limited to, BZA Variances, Appeals of a Zoning Administrator determination/decision, and Zoning Administrator Modification requests. Ensure each submittal contains all required documents and information for later analysis by the BZA Coordinator.
- Process payments associated with BZA submittals and other pertinent Planning Department items.
- Prepare agendas, legal advertisements, initial information for the BZA Coordinator, and graphics for BZA applications.
- Provide guidance to customers pertaining to BZA matters, general zoning regulations, and other regulatory requirements.
- Prepare maps in GIS and other formats for the BZA.
- Review and process various administrative applications, such as collocations of small cell towers.
- Prepare legal documents required by law to be sent to citizens.
- Communicate verbally and in writing with engineers, design professionals, City staff, and the general public regarding zoning issues and questions, site plan review, and other application processes.
- Review BZA plans, exhibits, and renderings for general compliance with zoning regulations (full analysis not required).
- Assist with public outreach when necessary.
- Using a City vehicle, perform site visits associated with all BZA submittals to photograph the properties and ensure proper public notice signs have been erected on-site by the landowner. Upload photos for use by the BZA Coordinator.
- Answer primary phone line, general email accounts, and assist walk-in customers by directing inquiries to the appropriate individual or team.
- Assist customers using Accela Citizen Access (ACA – online BZA application portal) and other online resources associated with Planning Department applications.
- Act as the clerk during the BZA public hearings.
- Assist with FOIA requests and other projects requiring research and information gathering from various sources.
- Perform other job duties requiring skills, knowledge, and physical requirements as demanded by those duties described or less. Individual assignments will be determined by the supervisor based on current workloads and department needs.
- Prepare special reports involving software programs using various computer files and provide data entry and information/report services in support of the other staff.
The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and leave.
**This position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Once the appropriate applicant pool has been established, it will be closed.**