Planner, Government, Environmental & Urban Planning

The Planner is an entry-level, non-exempt position under direct supervision of the Principal Planner or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Manager and general supervision of the Director of Planning and Community Development Department. The Planner performs professional transportation, urban, and land use planning activities, by assisting upper-level department staff, coordinating and collaborating with public, private, local, state, and federal entities. The Planner will work in coordination with the Senior Planner.

The Planner will respond to customer inquiries regarding transportation and land use regulations. Planner duties include routine and moderately complex tasks as assigned.

This job description is an overview and is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the functions and tasks required of the position.

Depending on assignment the Planner:

• Receives and reviews zoning, subdivision, master planning, variance, and use by review requests, development and redevelopment proposals, and applications for compliance with appropriate regulations and policies
• Performs work in current and long-range land use and transportation planning, programs, and studies
• Researches, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population, transportation, and land use trends, prepares written reports on various planning matters and elements of the comprehensive plan and long-range transportation plan
• Compiles information, makes recommendations, and prepares planning reports pertaining to land use, community development and transportation
• Researches, prepares and presents reports and recommendations to a variety of boards, commissions, and committees
• Makes public presentations and recommendations on various aspects of transportation and land use planning services and activities
• Researches, verifies, updates and drafts legislative documents for review; collects, records, and summarizes statistical and demographic information
• Consults with and advises architects, contractors, engineers, surveyors and the public regarding city development policies and standards
• Compiles information and assists in the submission of development plans for private and public development; reviews commercial, industrial, and residential development plans for code compliance; processes development, business and other land use certificate and license applications
• Answers questions and provides information to the public and external agencies regarding transportation, zoning, land use, comprehensive plan, and the long-range transportation plan
• Investigates planning-related complaints and recommends corrective actions
• Coordinates city planning activities with other city departments and outside agencies
• Conducts field inspections to verify compliance with approved permits and licenses

• May perform the duties of similar classifications of an equal or lower pay grade

• Performs research and technical writing
• Communicates technical information clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences

• Assists in the resolution of routine and sensitive land use customer service issues
• Serves as a staff representative on various boards/committees, as assigned

This is the entry level classification in the Planner series. The Planner is differentiated from the Senior Planner classification by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series. The work completed by the Planner is observed and reviewed during both its performance and upon completion. The incumbent may have limited work experience.

The physical standards an employee must meet in order to perform the…