POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Planner position is to provide highly responsible administrative support in the Planning and Zoning department. Responsibilities include performing short- and long-range planning and zoning activities. Responsibilities will include research, analysis, designing and facilitating community planning processes, while consulting as the staff liaison for the Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, the Board of Adjustment and Site Plan Review. Work is performed under the direction of the Director of Planning and Zoning.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF POSITION

The Senior Planner will act as lead staff on the research and analysis of techniques and practices of urban and regional planning. This position is also the lead reviewer on current planning applications, such as annexations, zonings, variances, waivers, ordinance amendments, special use permits and conditional use permits. This position also provides project management for grants and other department projects/studies. The majority of the tasks completed by this position are varied and of a moderate to high level of complexity. The tasks require originality and creativity and almost often require the incumbent to compare alternative courses of action and make choices and decisions.

Work is performed both in the office and in the field and involves considerable contact with the public and other persons engaged in building construction, property maintenance, commercial business operations and ordinance enforcement activities.

The position reports directly to the Director of Planning and Zoning and maintains a close working relationship with other departments and officials of the City as required.

A review of this job description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This position is required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the position it reports to.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Current & Long-Range Planning
  • Performs advanced professional work related to a variety of planning assignments
  • Prepares text amendments to various codes and ordinances
  • Manages complex planning studies, development applications and reviews consultant proposals
  • Reviews and processes complex comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings, annexations, site plans, plats, etc.
  • Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, physical, social & economic issues
  • Completes special projects as directed by supervisor
  • Assists in updating the City's Comprehensive Plan.
  • Researches and prepares amendments and updates to all planning related documents.

• Advisory Board Oversight
  • Prepares agenda items for the Department on zoning, annexation, and related matters.
  • Coordinates all activities associated with the Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Adjustment, including mailouts
  • Schedules and conducts meetings with advisory boards
  • Serves as department liaison with Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Adjustment.
  • Prepares and makes presentations to the Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Board of Adjustment and to the public (civic associations, home owner associations, professional groups, etc)

• Project Management
  • Performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans
  • Prepares Requests for Proposals (RFP's) for grant-related projects; coordinates projects with consultants, engineers and prospective bidders
  • Coordinates and monitors various planning programs for the City, in conjunction with associated agencies.
• Miscellaneous
  • Supervises more junior planners within the department
  • Coordinates department projects with other departments and state agencies
  • Writes monthly articles for the department newsletter on current planning cases and long-range planning projects
  • Responds to professionals and citizenry questions
  • Attends professional meetings, seminars and training classes and reports back to the department
  • Performs other related duties as directed, required, or which are obvious