Principal Planner - Current Planning

City of Thornton • Thornton, CO

1d

About The Position

Under general direction, performs advanced and complex professional work in planning and development for the city, including current and/or long-range planning. Provides supervision to assigned staff. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.) Assists in development and implementation of division goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work plan. Develops and ensures that various operating procedures, standards, and guidelines are followed. Manages, supervises, and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination, or advancement of employees. Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains, and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance. Coordinates internal development review comments between divisions and other city departments. Summarizes city comments, writes letters to applicants, and resolves conflicts between divisions. Writes Ordinances and Resolutions for development applications. Prepares reports explaining proposed projects, problem areas, and proposed solutions. Provides assistance to developers, architects, land planners, attorneys, and the public regarding the development process, zoning issues, and planning matters. Researches and defines code requirements pertinent to development applications. Negotiates with applicants, developers, and other City departments regarding development requirements to obtain quality projects. Prepares technical staff reports and gives presentations to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and City Council and correspondence related to planning issues and projects. Coordinates outreach programs associated with long range planning projects. Coordinates and attends neighborhood meetings with residents to review development applications. Facilitates resolutions to conflicting views on projects. Organizes and facilitates meetings with developers, residents, and community groups to introduce and discuss new development proposals and planning projects. Answers planning, zoning and development process questions from residents, developers, and other agencies. Researches and writes Development Code Amendments, including text amendments and the creation of new zoning districts. Researches, prepares, and implements elements of the Comprehensive Plan, master plans, long-range planning studies, special studies, ordinance amendments, and reports on other planning issues. Prepares recommendations as appropriate. Researches and provides recommendations where necessary on local, regional, and national planning issues. Participates in regional planning and other efforts where necessary. Maintains case files to ensure files are clean and contain the required information. Assists in the preparation and administration of the division budget; forecasts the necessary funds for staffing, equipment, training, materials, and supplies. Submits budget recommendations and justifications. Monitors expenditures against approved budget as appropriate. Researches and advises department on use of federal programs and funds. Administers federal and other programs. Updates job knowledge continuously regarding planning methods, design criteria, city zoning and land use regulations, and the Comprehensive Plan. Remains aware of and is sensitive to community issues impacting the long-range planning process. May serve in an acting Current or Long Range Planning Manager capacity during absences. Performs other duties as assigned. CURRENT PLANNING In addition to the above general responsibilities, the incumbent in the Current Planning Division will also perform the following essential functions: Reviews and analyzes development proposals or applications such as annexations, zoning requests, conceptual site plans subdivisions, and development permits for compliance with appropriate planning principles, regulations and policies. Formulates recommendations regarding planning issues. Manages the review of development proposals; conducts pre-development meetings with land use planners, architects and the public; holds ongoing meetings with developers, consultants and owners during the application period. Ensures backup assistance with daily Planner of the Day activities including citizen walk-ins, phone calls and review of building permits. Follows up with inquiries in a timely manner. Researches questions. Negotiates and prepares developer agreements and contracts. Reviews and approves building permits for zoning compliance. Manages the review of metropolitan districts; conducts meetings with property owners and their representatives during the application period. Reviews and analyzes applications for metropolitan districts for compliance with appropriate planning principles, state and local regulations and policies. Collects, records, and maintains databases of statistical and demographic information utilizing the city's mapping program. Designs and prepares illustrative and graphic presentation materials for public hearings and meetings utilizing the city's mapping programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Planning or related field from an accredited college or university
• Five years' progressively responsible experience in urban planning
• One-year supervisory or lead responsibility
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures and goals of the city of Thornton and the department.
• Knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and ordinances related to land use, zoning, subdivisions, and annexations.
• Knowledge of the city of Thornton Comprehensive Plan, master plans, and neighborhood plans.
• Knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of current and long-range municipal planning.
• Knowledge of materials and equipment used in municipal planning.
• Skill in supervisory practices including employee training and development and performance management.
• Skill in preparing comprehensive plans, master plans and area plans; and in developing planning policy and program proposals.
• Skill in researching and analyzing planning issues, and developing strategies to address them.
• Skill in conducting productive meetings with developers, land use planners, architects and the public.
• Ability to perform advanced current and/or long-range planning functions.
• Ability to appropriately review and analyze development proposals and applications including annexations, zoning requests, subdivisions, and development permits.
• Ability to research and define code requirements pertinent to development applications.
• Ability to assist developers, architects, land planners, and the public with the development process, zoning issues, and planning matters.
• Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
• Ability to formulate sound recommendations regarding planning issues and development cases.
• Ability to facilitate and negotiate resolution to complex planning issues.
• Ability to effectively manage specific program areas or planning functions such as a housing and neighborhood revitalization program.
• Ability to prepare developer agreements and contracts.
• Ability to exercise considerable independence and initiative.
• Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
• Ability to research, develop and lead formal and informal presentations and discussions with diverse groups.
• Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software.
• Ability to supervise, direct and train employees.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, other agencies, developers, contractors and community members.
• While performing the essential duties of the job, the employee is required to climb, reach, stand, walk, grasp, feeling, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions.
• This position is mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity.
• The employee is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Planning is highly desirable.
• AICP certification preferred.
• May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

Responsibilities

• Assists in development and implementation of division goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work plan.
• Develops and ensures that various operating procedures, standards, and guidelines are followed.
• Manages, supervises, and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination, or advancement of employees.
• Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains, and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance.
• Coordinates internal development review comments between divisions and other city departments.
• Summarizes city comments, writes letters to applicants, and resolves conflicts between divisions.
• Writes Ordinances and Resolutions for development applications.
• Prepares reports explaining proposed projects, problem areas, and proposed solutions.
• Provides assistance to developers, architects, land planners, attorneys, and the public regarding the development process, zoning issues, and planning matters.
• Researches and defines code requirements pertinent to development applications.
• Negotiates with applicants, developers, and other City departments regarding development requirements to obtain quality projects.
• Prepares technical staff reports and gives presentations to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and City Council and correspondence related to planning issues and projects.
• Coordinates outreach programs associated with long range planning projects.
• Coordinates and attends neighborhood meetings with residents to review development applications.
• Facilitates resolutions to conflicting views on projects.
• Organizes and facilitates meetings with developers, residents, and community groups to introduce and discuss new development proposals and planning projects.
• Answers planning, zoning and development process questions from residents, developers, and other agencies.
• Researches and writes Development Code Amendments, including text amendments and the creation of new zoning districts.
• Researches, prepares, and implements elements of the Comprehensive Plan, master plans, long-range planning studies, special studies, ordinance amendments, and reports on other planning issues.
• Prepares recommendations as appropriate.
• Researches and provides recommendations where necessary on local, regional, and national planning issues.
• Participates in regional planning and other efforts where necessary.
• Maintains case files to ensure files are clean and contain the required information.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of the division budget; forecasts the necessary funds for staffing, equipment, training, materials, and supplies.
• Submits budget recommendations and justifications.
• Monitors expenditures against approved budget as appropriate.
• Researches and advises department on use of federal programs and funds.
• Administers federal and other programs.
• Updates job knowledge continuously regarding planning methods, design criteria, city zoning and land use regulations, and the Comprehensive Plan.
• Remains aware of and is sensitive to community issues impacting the long-range planning process.
• May serve in an acting Current or Long Range Planning Manager capacity during absences.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Reviews and analyzes development proposals or applications such as annexations, zoning requests, conceptual site plans subdivisions, and development permits for compliance with appropriate planning principles, regulations and policies.
• Formulates recommendations regarding planning issues.
• Manages the review of development proposals; conducts pre-development meetings with land use planners, architects and the public; holds ongoing meetings with developers, consultants and owners during the application period.
• Ensures backup assistance with daily Planner of the Day activities including citizen walk-ins, phone calls and review of building permits.
• Follows up with inquiries in a timely manner.
• Researches questions.
• Negotiates and prepares developer agreements and contracts.
• Reviews and approves building permits for zoning compliance.
• Manages the review of metropolitan districts; conducts meetings with property owners and their representatives during the application period.
• Reviews and analyzes applications for metropolitan districts for compliance with appropriate planning principles, state and local regulations and policies.
• Collects, records, and maintains databases of statistical and demographic information utilizing the city's mapping program.
• Designs and prepares illustrative and graphic presentation materials for public hearings and meetings utilizing the city's mapping programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal