Listing Summary

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for performing advanced professional community development zoning  duties, including conducting advanced zoning  studies, research and analyses; overseeing the most complex development projects, comprehensive plan and development code amendments, policy/ordinance development and project administration.           

 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Coordinates and directs the daily work activities of assigned staff.

• Organizes, schedules, and directs all development plan review meetings and participates in the review of all development plans to ensure compliance with all zoning regulations; provides expertise and guidance to meeting participants for matters pertaining to zoning.

• The Senior Planner will analyze census, land use, housing, and real estate data as a basis for community zoning , and prepare maps, charts, and other graphics to make informed zoning decisions.
• Review, research, field inspect, analyze, and writes reports, with staff recommendations, findings and conditions, for various types of development applications. Interact with applicants to suggest improvement and/or modification of zoning applications to better comply with ordinances and standards.
• Research, drafts, and revises zoning ordinance and development code to implement goals and policies of the zoning ordinance.
• Develops and administers land use regulatory system within the limitations of staffing, budgets, and community acceptability.
• Designs, updates, and implements current and long-range plans, amendments, and studies in areas such as natural resources, land use and transportation, public services and facilities, community design, land and subdivision development, zoning regulation and ordinances, and strategic zoning .
• Research, compiles, and analyzes data in solution of problems relating to applications, zoning proposals, and county facilities and services zoning .
• Develops models in support of strategic plan activities, using various analytical techniques such as economic modeling, spatial analysis and dynamic modeling.
• Collects population and demographic information from a variety of sources to produce estimates, forecasts, and other analyses.
• Updates and assists with maintaining data in support of the City’s Geographic Information system database including changes in land use, zoning, comprehensive plans, parcel records, new construction and subdivision development.
• Prepares maps and other graphic materials for distribution to the general public and presentations to the City Council and other governing or advisory boards and agencies.
• Negotiates changes to zoning ordinance, development proposals, applications and reports; reviews tentative and final maps for subdivisions, development applications, site plans, building permits, and other zoning  proposals.
• Answers inquiries and mediates concerns raised by the public, developers, and interested agencies on zoning issues and function; resolves issues in an efficient and timely manner; consults with developers, agencies, special interest groups and other professionals regarding zoning related issues.
• Communicates with the development community and the general public to provide information   regarding 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.
• Assists with the formulation and implementation of 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 zoning regulations; provides expertise and guidance to meeting participants for matters pertaining to zoning.
• Reviews and approves staff analysis prior to its release to Community Development Director: provides feedback and guidance to zoning staff; determines if any additional review of an application is necessary; reviews rejected applications to determine missing zoning 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.
• Operates a personal computer, printer, fax machine, copier, phone system, measuring wheel, architect and engineering scale, light table, tape measure, and other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and other system software utilized by the department.
• Consults with others on complex problem situations and provides technical expertise;
• Provides progress and activity reports to senior management; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate;
• Performs related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in urban and Regional Zoning  or closely related field; five (5) years of experience in zoning, planning and development activities with a minimum of two years supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. CAD and Studio Design, Adobe, and Geographical Information System (GIS) proficiency.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

 Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

•Land use, economic, and social implications of all aspects of land use regulation:

• City, county, state, and federal laws, statutes, zoning ordinances related to community development and emergency management activities.

•Performance standards applicable to a variety of land uses, develop appropriate standards based on location, use intensity, compatibility, and community values and housing.

• Principles and practices of urban planning, zoning  and development.

• Principles and practices of cartography and population forecasting.

• Graphical information systems, AutoCAD and/or ArcView.

• Statistical analysis and mathematical concepts.

• Computer applications related to the work.

• Communicating effectively in oral and written forms.

 • Techniques for techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio- economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The work is sedentary to light which requires the ability to exert light physical effort, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). May work an adjusted schedule for assisting in events occurring after 5:00 p.m. such as meetings, or planned events.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS SPECIFICATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION IN ORDER TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE JOB.