Associate Planner

City of Lone Tree•Lone Tree, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At the City of Lone Tree, we are committed to hiring individuals who are passionate about their community, eager to grow in their careers, and motivated to make a meaningful impact. The City prides itself on a system of “perfecting planning through the process,” applying a flexible and collaborative development review process to achieve better community projects. The Lone Tree Planning Division is a small, dynamic team that works closely together, valuing big-picture, outside-the-box thinkers. Successful team members need excellent organizational, oral, and written communication skills, proactive problem-solving, adaptability, and a focus on process improvement. The team fosters a supportive environment with shared lunches, departmental outings, and a leadership team focused on employee health and work-life balance. Under guidance, the Associate Planner performs responsible and professional-level work in current and long-range planning. This includes conducting plan reviews, planning studies, and related activities for the administration, development, and enforcement of the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning and Subdivision Codes, Design Guidelines and Standards, and supplementary plans and regulations. The role involves working in a team environment within the Planning Division and with other city departments, consultants, and agency partners, requiring extensive public contact, public presentations, and occasional attendance at meetings outside regular working hours. This is a full journey level position where incumbents apply a broad and comprehensive scope of knowledge in a wide range of planning activities, responsible for daily current planning and more complex assignments with latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of operating procedures and policies.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact effectively and respectfully, and to maintain working relationships with individuals of varying cultural, economic, professional, educational and political backgrounds.
Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professionalism, credibility, thoroughness, flexibility, and collaboration skills.
Ability to work within strict deadlines and to follow oral and written instructions.
Critical and creative thinking skills: the ability to assess complex planning issues and problems, analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective courses of action regarding zoning policies and land use ordinances.
Provide courteous and responsive communication to the public through effective customer service skills.
Resolve complicated situations requiring diplomacy and tact and know when to engage supervisors for additional support.
Flexible, detail-oriented, and have excellent time management and organizational skills.
Ability to take initiative, be a problem solver, and work in a fast-paced and professional environment.
Must be adaptive and work well within a range of team and leadership frameworks.
Interpreting and explaining policies and regulations accurately and tactfully to the public to ensure understanding by the lay person.
Be discreet and adhere to the American Planning Association Ethical Principles in Planning.
Articulate and embody the core values of the organization.
Seek to connect current work assignments to the goals and objectives of the organization.
Excellent writing skills: the ability to prepare clear, concise, and complete correspondence, technical documents, reports, and other written materials using proper spelling, grammar, and professional writing style.
Interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps to development proposals.
Outstanding presentation and public speaking skills including ability to present information concisely at public meetings.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions using a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
Precision and attention to minute details when reviewing development plans, maps and reports to ensure accuracy and completeness of review, balanced with an understanding of larger organizational objectives.
Maintain accurate records and collect, compile, analyze and present technical, statistical, and graphical information pertaining to planning and zoning data and research.
Knowledge of objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends related to municipal planning and administering planning functions, including general plan development and administration, zoning, long-range planning, and related topics.
Knowledge of land use, urban design, demographic, environmental, housing, and social/economic concepts and principles as applied to local government planning.
Knowledge of terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning, site plans and plats.
Knowledge of principles and procedures pertaining to site planning, architectural review, and design.
Knowledge of purposes, roles, and authorities of councils, commissions, and others involved in the planning process.
Knowledge of Federal, state and local regulations related to planning.
Knowledge of modern office procedures and methods including computer equipment, word processing, spreadsheets, database organization, graphic presentations and other needed specialized software applications, and internet and electronic communication.
Master’s degree in planning, urban design, community or regional development, natural resources, public administration or a closely related field from an accredited college or university AND a minimum of one (1) year paid professional experience in a public or private sector land use planning capacity performing duties comparable to those of the Associate Planner position.
OR Bachelor's degree in planning, urban design, community or regional development natural resources, environmental studies, geography, public administration, or closely related field AND a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in local government or private sector planning performing duties comparable to those of the Associate Planner position.
OR Associate’s degree in geography, geographic information systems, landscape architecture, environmental or natural resource sciences, or a closely related field, AND five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in local government or private sector planning performing duties comparable to those of the Associate Planner position.
Must possess a valid Driver’s License and be physically capable of operating motor vehicles safely in the normal course of assignments.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of GIS and/or graphic programs such as SketchUp preferred.

Responsibilities

Assists the public and customers with zoning and land use inquiries: answers technical questions related to land use and zoning ordinances; meets with property owners, architects, developers, realtors, appraisers, and members of the public to provide information on land use and zoning laws and regulations.
Responsible for review of development proposals for compliance with City codes, guidelines and policies and best planning practices; works with applicants to refine their plans to ensure maximum conformance with City regulations and guidelines, negotiating development solutions where possible.
Responsible for processing land use applications through the development review process including conducting pre-submittal meetings, reviewing zoning and subdivision applications, communicating with referral agencies and community members, developing information packet materials for Planning Commission and City Council, presenting in public forums, and inspecting development projects for compliance with approved plans.
Reviews building/grading permit applications for conformance with approved development plans and land use regulations.
Reviews sign permits.
In conjunction with the Building Division, makes on-site inspections of developments to ensure compliance with site plans prior to issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy.
Gathers and analyzes data, prepares staff reports, maps and notices for public hearings; formulates department recommendations regarding land use requests and makes presentations at public meetings throughout the City.
Researches information and prepares reports for the Planning Commission and City Council on a wide variety of planning related issues.
Under the supervision of the Principal Planner and/or Planning Manager, prepares staff recommendations to the City Council and Planning Commission for action on development proposals.
May assist the Planning Manager, Principal Planner, and/or Senior Planners with specialized policy initiatives and projects in areas that may include, but not be limited to, hazard mitigation, parks and trails planning, and sustainability.