Senior Planner

Under the general guidance and leadership of the Director of Planning and Development Services, this is a responsible professional, technical and administrative position involving long-range comprehensive planning and zoning activities as well as related implementing activities. The position requires considerable latitude for individual judgment and initiative.

This is advanced professional work in land use and comprehensive planning, research and design relating to long-range planning and/or urban design, current land development and rezoning proposals, environmental assessment, planning and ecological research, or planning and developing programs. This position involves extensive public involvement, contact with public officials and coordination with internal departments and external agencies. Trains and mentors other team members.

This position acts in a leadership capacity on projects and initiatives.

• Serves as a contact for all division inquiries and customer service, providing general information to the public on zoning and other land development issues.
• Assists the public in interpreting various land use codes, rules, maps and regulations; informs citizens, applicants and developers of required restrictions associated with the Land Development Code.
• Interacts with fellow team members, other departments, elected officials, business and the general public in a cooperative, team-focused, efficient and professional manner.
• Perform duties of the Unified Land Development Regulations (Code) and Comprehensive Plan interpretation, clarification and explanation to internal and external customers and maintenance and understanding of records pertaining to planning projects.
• Reviews annexations, small and large-scale future land use amendments, rezonings, variances, major developments, Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), preliminary and final plats, Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code text amendments and other Planning Board applications.
• Reviews beverage license and business tax receipt applications for consistency with local zoning ordinances.
• Performs research for preparation of and development of staff reports concerning development order, zoning and land use amendment requests.
• Performs advanced professional work related to a variety of planning assignments.
• Manage complex planning studies, development applications, and review consultant proposals.
• Interpret Federal, State and Local regulations and guidelines as they relate to assigned responsibilities and stay abreast of various legislative changes.
• Provide assistance and information to City departments, developers, applicants and the general public regarding a wide range of planning functions, rezonings, land use amendments, subdivision regulations, the Development Order review process and other related areas.
• Attends and provides comments and feedback to citizens and stakeholders at pre-submittal and internal staff meetings concerning the Unified Land Development Code, local Comprehensive Plan, Board of Architects, Planning Board, Technical Review Committee and the Development Order review process and all land use requests that go before the Planning Board and City Commission.

• Reviews various large- and small-scale comprehensive plan amendments and existing land use and subdivision surveys according to state and local requirements.

• Assists in the review and monitoring of programs, projects and applications to ensure compliance with various codes, plans, contracts, agency policies and procedures, and rules and regulations.
• Prepares and/or reviews zoning verification letters, permitted use verification letters, subdivision, lot split, lot combinations and lot reconfiguration letters as needed.
• Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, physical, social and economic issues.
• Provides professional planning assistance on varied land use projects.
• Reviews Development Order applications for consistency with the local Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code as assigned.
• Reviews Certificate of Acceptance applications for consistency with the local Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code as assigned.
• Reviews proposals (rezoning, land use amendments, variances, special exceptions, text amendments, or neighborhood plan studies).
• Reviews planning permits, sign, accessory, residential and small-scale commercial Development Order applications and site plans, permits to ensure conformance with planning and zoning ordinance…