Planner Parks Development & Planning

Job Summary:

The Planner, Parks Development & Planning, reporting to the Senior Project Manager, Parkland Strategy, or reporting to the Senior Project Manager, Facilities Plan, will work with a team of professionals in the Parks & Recreation Division to expand and improve the City’s parkland, and recreation facilities and amenities. The primary function of the role is to support long-term planning through the review and implementation of the Parks & Recreation Division’s Strategic Plans, including the Parks & Recreation Facilities Plan, the Parkland Strategy, and local area studies from a parks planning perspective.

• Identifies and develops plans and strategies related to the planning and development of new parkland and new recreation facilities for community and city-wide, area-based and facility specific initiatives.
• Reviews, evaluates, provides comments and makes recommendations on new park and facility opportunities, for reporting to Committees and Council or under staff’s delegated authority, with regard to the Planning Actand applicable Municipal Code, Parkland Strategy, Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and Official Plan policies and legislation.
• Analyzes provincial changes to parkland conveyance policies (i.e., legislative and regulatory changes to the Planning Act, and supports the City’s response to these changes, which could include making updates to the Official Plan, the Municipal Code, and Secondary Plans.
• Prepares evidence-based reports and presentations using computer applications, statistical software, geospatial software (including ESRI GIS software) or any other relevant programs.
• Analyzes and documents demographic, social, economic, cultural and physical data, and produces maps, charts and other summary analysis to support preparation of reports and presentation materials on parkland and recreation facility planning affecting various geographic scales including local community, area-based and citywide.
• Undertakes detailed site analysis including conducting field visits of sites for parkland development, acquisition potential, connections and expansion of existing assets to ensure they meet divisional standards, programming and operating requirements as well as requirements reflected in the City of Toronto's Official Plan.
• Conducts parkland planning studies and initiatives, develops recommendations and drafts reports for Committees and Council.
• Develops and supports recommended amendments for new official plan policies and prepares reports to address the implications of parkland and recreation facility planning.
• Supports preliminary design and consultation to guide the development of new Community Recreation Centres and outdoor recreation facilities.
• Provides information and advice to requests from elected officials, other city divisions, property owners, consultants, agencies, boards and the public.
• Conducts research, data collection and analysis, including surveys, and supports public consultation activities such as public meetings, as required.
• Review and comments on technical drawings and reports and undertakes land use planning analysis including parkland and facility needs assessments, geospatial analysis, application of Official Plan policies and zoning/land use designations, property information.
• Provides work direction on research, analysis and report writing assignments to staff.
• Prepares terms of reference and study designs, conducts, reviews and contributes to parkland and recreation facility planning studies, develops recommendations and drafts report for Committees of Council.
• Supports the management of consultant studies, including developing terms of reference, day-to-day coordination to assist in ensuring that studies are completed on time and within budget, and preparing status reports.
• Supports implementation of the approved capital budget for parks and recreation facilities and provides advice on new budget requests to advance land acquisition or park development.
• Presents evidence and provides professional opinion as an expert witness at proceedings before Ontario Tribunals on parkland matters as they relate to the Planning Act, Official…