Planner Associate - Land Use

Overview

The Land Use Administration Division of the Department of Planning & Development Review (PDR) is hiring for the position of Planner Associate. This is an entry‑level planner position. The selected applicant will be an integral part of providing professional planning services, land use planning, preservation planning, zoning administration, and the monitoring, review, and evaluation of land use development proposals and urban design.

The selected candidate will be the support staff of the Land Use Administrative Division on projects that will require the coordination of multiple City agencies and disciplines, including the review of site plans.

• Reviewing applications, proposals, bids, plans, and reports for land use and zoning ordinance compliance.
• Conducting field investigations; preparing and presenting reports; maintaining databases; coordinating city agency reviews, including determining review criteria.
• Designing and developing comprehensive community and neighborhood development plans.
• Determining project compliance; analyzing effects of plans on land use, redevelopment, and rehabilitation.
• Providing technical assistance; managing site plan review.

• Basic knowledge and application of planning and zoning, site plans, commercial and residential building plans, real estate, and development regulations.
• Basic understanding of engineering principals, land use and zoning law, landscape architecture, architecture, and construction methods.
• Basic knowledge of zoning, subdivision, and site development ordinances.
• Knowledge of re‑zoning and special use permit processes.
• General knowledge of Site Plan and Subdivision review processes.
• Understanding of phases of a project's lifecycle from pre‑design through construction administration.
• Graphic design.
• General knowledge of urban planning and design; preservation planning principles, laws, and regulations; zoning ordinances and ordinance preparation; master planning; traditional neighborhood development; transportation planning; land title principles and surveying; and engineering principles.
• Expertise with some combination of the following computer programs:
  Microsoft Office Suite; GIS;
  Ener Gov;
  Legistar;
  Blue Beam;
  SharePoint; word processing programs;
  AutoCAD;
  Sketch Up;
  ArcGIS; IRender nXt; and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop).

• Providing excellent customer service, including dealing with difficult customers.
• Being a clear and effective facilitator, including public speaking skills and defending recommendations/positions.
• Managing databases.
• Composing documents.
• Negotiating and balancing the needs of citizens with economic demands, health and human service needs, goals of private corporations, and land use regulations.
• Assessing and evaluating a project's conformance with Commission of Architectural Review Guidelines.
• Utilizing a large‑scale printer/plotter.
• Preparing documentation according to state and federal standards.
• Photographing sites for clarity and documentation.
• Conducting research.
• Reading and understanding building plans.
• Leading effective meetings.
• Conducting site inspections.

• Analyze information.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Learn new programs quickly.
• Communicate planning and local government policy issues to a range of audiences.
• Interact and work with different groups of people.
• Undertake complex projects with multiple deadlines and stakeholders.
• Adapt to unique variables (physical, regulatory, political).

• Bachelor's degree in city/urban planning, civil or environmental engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, real estate, law, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

• None required.