Planner Associate - Land Use

City of Richmond•Richmond, VA

23h

About The Position

The Land Use Administration Division of the Department of Planning & Development Review (PDR) is hiring for the position of Planner Associate. This is an entry-level planner position. The selected applicant will be an integral part of providing professional planning services, land use planning, preservation planning, zoning administration, and the monitoring, review, and evaluation of land use development proposals and urban design. The selected candidate will be the support staff of the Land Use Administrative Division on projects that will require the coordination of multiple City agencies and disciplines, including the review of site plans. As assigned, work may include: reviewing applications, proposals, bids, plans, and reports for land use and zoning ordinance compliance; conducting field investigations; preparing and presenting reports; maintaining databases; coordinating city agency reviews, including determining review criteria; designing and developing comprehensive community and neighborhood development plans; determining project compliance; analyzing effects of plans on land use, redevelopment, and rehabilitation; providing technical assistance, and managing site plan review.

Requirements

Basic knowledge and application of planning and zoning, site plans, commercial and residential building plans, real estate, and development regulations.
Basic understanding of engineering principals, land use and zoning law, landscape architecture, architecture, and construction methods
Basic knowledge of zoning, subdivision, and site development ordinances.
Knowledge of re-zoning and special use permit processes
General knowledge of Site Plan and Subdivision review processes
Understanding of phases of a project's lifecycle from pre-design through construction administration
Graphic design
General knowledge of urban planning and design; preservation planning principles, laws, and regulations; zoning ordinances and ordinance preparation; master planning; traditional neighborhood development; transportation planning; land title principles and surveying; and engineering principles
Expertise with some combination of the following computer programs: Microsoft Office Suite; GIS; EnerGov; Legistar; Blue Beam; SharePoint; word processing programs; AutoCAD; SketchUp; ArcGIS; IRender nXt; and Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. - InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
Providing excellent customer service, including dealing with difficult customers
Being a clear and effective facilitator, including public speaking skills and defending recommendations/positions
Managing databases
Composing documents
Negotiating and balancing the needs of citizens with economic demands, health and human service needs, goals of private corporations, and land use regulations
Assessing and evaluating a project's conformance with Commission of Architectural Review Guidelines
Utilizing a large-scale printer/plotter
Preparing documentation according to state and federal standards
Photographing sites for clarity and documentation
Conducting research
Reading and understanding building plans
Leading effective meetings
Conducting site inspections
Analyze information
Pay attention to detail
Learn new programs quickly
Communicate planning and local government policy issues to a range of audiences
Interact and work with different groups of people
Undertake complex projects with multiple deadlines and stakeholders
Adapt to unique variables (i.e., physical, regulatory, political)
Bachelor’s degree in city/urban planning, civil or environmental engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, real estate, law, or a related field
An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

Responsibilities

Assists various commissions through providing technical expertise, presenting applications, advising staff on the preparation of reports, assisting with long-range initiatives, and other administrative tasks.
Reviews documents such as tax abatement projects, demolition permits, land use property proposals, applications, site plans, and building proposals.
Assists with special projects such as census updates, the City's Master Plan, HUD-funded projects, Cell Tower Environmental Impact reports, GIS-based maps, and visionary small area plans and reports.
Communicates with members of the community.
Conducts site visits and takes measurements for purposes such as to develop site plans, floor plans, elevations, and 3D renderings.
Organizes and conducts meetings.