Listing Summary

Position Summary:

• Reporting to the Planning and Zoning Manager the Senior Planner coordinates and performs day to day activities of the Planning and Zoning Division; functions as senior staff for short- and long-term planning/zoning, Comprehensive Planning, site development review, building permits, variances, review of special land use permits and zoning amendments, and the maintenance of official zoning records and maps; acts as a technical advisor through oral and written presentation on planning, zoning, and development issues to Mayor and Council, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and other entities as required; This position communicates with the development community and the general public to gather and provide information regarding planning, zoning, and development issues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts technical review and analysis of information, reviews files to present information; provides technical assistance and recommendations for conflict resolution to planning staff; and assists supervisor with performance evaluations of subordinate staff.
• Reviews administrative variances and exception plats and forwards for approval; reviews final plats and division plats for completeness and approval.
• Reviews applications for compliance with zoning ordinances; assists in determining if any additional review of an application is necessary
• Review, research, field inspect, analyze, and write staff reports, with staff recommendations, findings, and conditions, for various types of development applications. Interact with applicants to suggest improvement and/or modification of development applications to better comply with Village ordinances and standards.
• Communicates with the development community and the public to provide information regarding planning, zoning, and development issues; provides information and answers to the public concerning zoning regulations; assists applicants in completing application forms; attends various board meetings to provide information and answers regarding applications and relates issues; advises board members of zoning ordinances and code requirements.
• Conducts technical review and analysis of information for long- and short-range plans; reviews and approves agendas prepared for boards and commissions; reviews files to present information; reviews board applications and plans for code compliance; reviews administrative variances and exception plats and forwards for approval; reviews final plats and division plats for completeness and approval. Reviews building permits for consistency with development and code.
• Serves as the Secretary to the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Assists with the formulation and implementation of planning studies and projects.
• Organizes, schedules, and directs all development plan review meetings and participates in the review of all development plans to ensure compliance with all planning and zoning regulations; provides expertise and guidance to meeting participants for matters pertaining to planning and zoning.
• Reviews and approves staff analysis prior to its release to boards and commissions: provides feedback and guidance to planning staff; determines if any additional review of an application is necessary; reviews rejected applications to determine missing information; revises and formulates recommendations and conditions for approval of applications; researches approved applications to determine compliance with Board requests; visits application sites, visually examines and photographs site; reviews photographs of sites; forwards applications materials and related information to Board members; reviews sign permit applications for compliance and issues approval or rejection.
• Receives, reviews, and processes rezoning and conditional applications; reviews and approves the surveys, site plans, and variance requests; inspects the site; photographs the area involved; coordinates and attends neighborhood meetings affected by the rezoning; gathers historical information involving the rezoning area; writes the initial draft of the staff report, submits to supervisor for review, and revises the report as directed; presents the rezoning application to the commission and Mayor and City Council; notifies applicant of incomplete application and deficiencies within the plan; discusses issues involved in the rezoning with outside agencies; reviews and approves related media ads and signs; writes action letters regarding rezoning outcome.
• Research’s complex zoning issues and conducts special research projects as assigned.
• Processes requests for building permits and assigns to appropriate staff; reviews staff analysis and recommendations; reviews building permit plans for compliance with all zoning codes and additional conditions as set forth by the board; informs building permit applicants of zoning deficiencies in their submittal; reviews correspondence prepared for building permit applicants; issues denial of permit request based on zoning issues.
• Processes business license requests; receives and assigns business license code compliance checklist; determines if a proposed business is allowed at requested site under zoning ordinances.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings and sessions; makes presentations; attends staff meetings to provide updates and present issues or concerns; and shares information from meetings with subordinates and supervisors.
• Provides progress and activity reports to senior management; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate.
• Performs related duties as assigned

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

These duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. In addition, specifications are intended to outline the minimum qualifications necessary for entry into the class and do not necessarily convey the qualifications of incumbents within the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of and ability to interpret codes and zoning ordinance.
• Knowledge of land planning, cartography and development principles, practices, and methods. Must have the ability to review, understand and interpret design drawings, site plans, construction specifications, maps, and plats.
• Skill in interpersonal communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals, groups, and personalities in resolving development and application issues.
• Ability to learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.
• Ability to use practical applications involving codes and zoning ordinances.
• Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
• Ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in a supervisory capacity.
• Ability to start, stop, operate, and monitor the functioning of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities and use time efficiently
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors own work to ensure quality and applies feedback to improve performance
• Interacts and communicates clearly with coworkers, citizens, and vendors in a courteous, friendly matter
• Manages difficult situations, responds promptly to needs, solicits consultant feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance and meets commitments
• Exhibits tact, consideration, and patience in difficult situations
• Approaches sudden, unexpected challenges effectively with confidence
• Punctual, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems time efficiently; Gathers and analyzes information; Develops solutions; Uses reason.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Organizes or schedules other tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively; Listens and gets clarification when necessary; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and concisely; Edits work; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of experience in planning and development activities with a minimum of two years supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of business licensing processes and regulations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to supervise and train staff.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• CAD and Studio Design, Adobe, and Geographical Information System (GIS) proficiency.
• Possession of a valid Georgia Class C driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration or closely related field.
• Computers and peripheral equipment.
• Designated software applications.
• Telephones, copiers, and other office equipment.