Associate Planner

Position Summary:

This position performs a variety of professional and technical work in current planning, municipal code updates, economic development, and long‑range planning.

• Reviews land use applications and prepares staff reports for compliance with various locals, state and federal requirements; guides projects through the approval process.
• Coordinates with other departments to move a project forward from the pre‑application stage to land use approval.
• Provides information on land use applications, ordinances, codes, plans and related planning programs, services or regulations to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, owners, community groups and interested persons.
• Responds to local citizens inquiring about local planning and zoning regulations and ordinances.

• Conducts field visits to observe land prior to development and at various stages of construction to assume development is occurring to the approved plans.
• Monitors compliance of permitted projects with land use conditions through construction and occupancy of the project.

• Appear before the city Hearing Examiner and Planning Commission to present on development applications and other planning projects.
• This position serves as the primary counter position, which involves responding to zoning, land use, planning, or project questions.
• Assists in comprehensive planning tasks and sub area plans.
• Facilitates community and public involvement meetings.
• Assists the Planning Supervisor and Community Development Director in planning or research tasks.
• Assists the Code Compliance Officer with research regarding zoning, land use, nuisance, or building violations.
• Conducts research, perform analysis and plan review and integrate complete work into composite reports or presentations of both narrative and graphic nature.
• Maintain, disclose and destroy public records in accordance with the requirements of the WA Public Records Act and WA State Archives records retention guidelines.
• Timely and regular attendance.
• Follow/adhere to all city policies and procedures, and safety program regulations and requirements.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Zoning laws and comprehensive plans, including their formation, process of adoption, implementation and enforcement; planning programs and process; and knowledge of GIS applications.
• Washington State Growth Management and the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Washington State laws relating to development.

• Modern office methods, procedures and office equipment.
• Computer literacy and experience using a personal computer.
• Regulations, principle and practices of a records retention system.
• Record keeping and administration.
• City government functions, policies, rules and regulations

• Read and analyze standard legal documents, and provide recommendations.
• Recommend creative solutions or alternatives to challenging zoning or building related requests.
• Deal with the public, engineers, and general contractors and suppliers courteously and tactfully.
• Interpret and enforce codes and ordinances tactfully and fairly with impartiality.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Make effective oral presentations at public hearings and meetings.

• Use permitting and electronic plan review software.
• Work under pressure, with challenging deadlines.
• Work independently on multiple tasks, copes with interruptions and meet deadlines.
• Prioritize tasks and coordinate efforts.
• Work as a team player.
• Maintain, disclose and destroy public records in accordance with the requirements of the WA Public Records Act and WA State Archives records retention guidelines.

• Perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Establish and…