Associate Director Of Design (Appointed) Planning Department

City of Detroit•Michigan, MI

About The Position

The Associate Director of Design & Development provides senior leadership for the Planning and Development Department’s review and coordination of development activity throughout Detroit. The position is PDD’s primary point of coordination for major development proposals, public land transactions, development-related City actions, zoning and land-use matters, and design review. It ensures that proposed development is evaluated consistently against adopted City and neighborhood plans, land-use policy, zoning requirements, urban design principles, and Mayoral and departmental priorities. The role connects the City’s planning and implementation functions by translating adopted plans and policies into guidance for development projects and identifying when proposals indicate a need for changes to City policy, zoning, processes, or plans. It leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for development coordination, design review, zoning policy and review, and related regulatory initiatives. The position also represents PDD with City leadership, developers, property owners, community organizations, professional organizations, and partner agencies, and serves as a senior advisor to the PDD Director.

Requirements

Substantial experience in several, but not necessarily all, of the following areas: urban planning and land-use policy; real estate development or public-sector development; development review and entitlement processes; urban design, architecture, or site planning; zoning and regulatory policy; public land transactions and redevelopment; municipal government and interdepartmental coordination; and management of multidisciplinary professional teams.
Ability to understand development from both planning and transaction perspectives, including how land-use policy, zoning, design, infrastructure, finance, public incentives, land ownership, political priorities, and market realities affect whether and how a project proceeds.

Responsibilities

Coordinate PDD review of significant public and private development proposals and development-related real estate transactions, including City land sales, acquisitions, dispositions, and development agreements.
Evaluate proposed transactions and developments for consistency with the City’s Master Plan, adopted neighborhood plans, zoning and land-use policy, urban design principles, and other relevant plans and strategies.
Consolidate staff input into clear departmental recommendations, identify conflicts or unresolved policy questions, and elevate significant matters to PDD leadership.
Participate in or lead interdepartmental development and real-estate coordination meetings, track significant matters requiring PDD review, and ensure PDD is engaged early in the development process.
Establish methods for assessing development proposals against City and neighborhood plans and work with regional planning teams to incorporate plan priorities into project review.
Translate plan recommendations into actionable development guidance and identify opportunities for transactions to advance land-use, housing, commercial corridor, public realm, mobility, open-space, and community-development objectives.
Identify recurring development conflicts that may require changes to zoning, design standards, City processes, or planning policy.
Oversee design review for projects requiring PDD review and maintain clear, predictable, and transparent review standards and processes.
Promote high-quality, context-sensitive urban design, appropriate site planning, and strong relationships between buildings and the public realm.
Guide the development, application, and periodic updating of design guidelines and development standards, and coordinate design review with BSEED’s Preliminary Plan Review and other City processes.
Oversee PDD involvement in rezonings, Special Land Uses, Board of Zoning Appeals matters, zoning reviews, sign waivers, and related land-use processes.
Ensure consistent interpretation and application of zoning and land-use policy; lead or coordinate zoning reforms and targeted ordinance amendments.
Identify regulatory barriers to desirable development while protecting planning, neighborhood, environmental, and design objectives, and translate adopted planning recommendations into regulatory changes.
Work with the City Planning Commission, BSEED, Law Department, and other partners on zoning policy and implementation.
Improve development and regulatory review by identifying process gaps, duplication, unclear ownership, and inconsistent practices; establish workflows, decision points, timelines, and communication practices.
Develop standard review criteria, checklists, templates, guidance documents, and internal protocols, and recommend policy, process, technology, or organizational changes based on development experience.
Lead cross-cutting initiatives related to development, land use, zoning, urban design, and implementation of City planning priorities.
Lead and develop staff responsible for development review, urban design, zoning, and related functions; establish priorities, work plans, performance expectations, and operating procedures.
Assign routine technical work to appropriate staff while focusing executive attention on significant projects, policy questions, interdepartmental matters, and organizational improvement.
Build working relationships with PDD regional teams and other divisions; represent PDD with City leadership, developers, property owners, community organizations, professional organizations, and partner agencies.
Serve as a senior advisor to the PDD Director on significant development, zoning, land-use, and urban-design matters.