Planner

General Summary

The Planner position ensures new development meets City standards and guidelines in order to create and maintain a high quality and well-built community by interpreting and communicating code, laws and regulations to ensure compliance with applicable standards. Some of the responsibilities of a Planner include evaluating land development requests for general plan amendments, rezoning, use permits, variances, design review, appeals, annexations, preliminary plats, as well as the drafting of legal documents such as ordinances and resolutions. Additionally, the Planner will make presentations at community meetings to facilitate decision making by Council, Boards, Commissions and related groups.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Focus on exceptional customer service.
• Researches and investigates designated aspects of the general plan, special projects or code amendments and makes recommendations based on findings.
• Communicates orally with customers, clients, or the public in face-to-face, one-on-one settings at a service counter or at public meetings.
• Compile information for and make recommendations on special studies and prepare planning reports.
• Prepares a variety of materials for use in Planning Commission and/or City Council meetings; verifies the accuracy of information presented; prepares and presents oral and visual media at commissions and community groups.
• Draft legal notices and post/submit hearing notices to newspapers, produce site postings, mailings completed within required timeframes.
• Researches, collects and analyzes data.
• Participates in a variety of planning projects.
• Writes special project reports or assigned portions of the general plan.
• Assists the public over the phone or at the counter.
• Responds to incoming correspondence and assist individuals in completing various applications.
• Performs plan checks, including occasional field checks, in order to ensure that plans meet zoning and ordinance requirements before submission to the City Council, Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and/or other boards or appropriate committees.
• Coordinates site, parking, and landscape plans as may be required and follows up on conditions of approval; checks preliminary subdivision maps.
• Assist with processing planning entitlement applications to the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, or City Council such as but not limited to Conditional Use Permits, variances and zoning text amendments.
• Researches and prepares planning related reports, documents and agenda for City officials and other agencies and organizations.
• Responds to planning related inquiries from the general public and other agencies and organizations.
• Reviews major and minor planned development amendments, rezoning requests, land use plan amendments, entitlements and other proposals.
• Participates in community meetings; prepares and delivers presentations at public meetings.
• Provides technical assistance to project participants.
• Coordinates review of projects with other departments and agencies.
• Interprets and applies the provisions of the City’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, state planning and zoning laws, General Plan, Design Guidelines and various specific plans, ordinances and policies.
• Conducts special studies to draft ordinances and updates to the General Plan.
• Drafts written staff reports and recommendations with findings and conditions of approval.
• Participates and coordinates processing activities with other staff members, departments or agencies.
• Prepares maps and graphics presentations for the department.
• Assists in the development of policies and procedures.
• Performs technical work related to environmental impact reports.
• Serves as staff liaison to various committees/boards.
• Assists with setting up for hearings and commission meetings.
• Maintains regular and consistent attendance record.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Collaborates with developers and stakeholders to reach agreement on acceptable design standards.
• Assists in the development of policies and procedures.
• Provides guidance to junior level staff.
• Reviews written work of other staff planners.
• Provides complex technical assistance.
• Meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Develops recommendations on planning or land development topics based on research findings, field observations, and public contact.
• Coordinates general plan programs, including updates of general plan elements and regional planning efforts.
• Applies Federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies related to municipal planning and land development
• Reports to work as scheduled and works various hours, including nights and weekends as deemed necessary by manager/supervisor, to conform with changing priorities and to meet deadlines.
• Maintains regular and consistent attendance record.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum and Preferred Entrance Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture or other closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible urban planning or directly related experience performing professional planning work;

Master’s degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture or other closely related field preferred.

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job, may be substituted for evaluation at the discretion of the Planning and Zoning Manager.

Competencies for Successful Performance of Job Duties

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning.
• Principles of development plan review and approval and zoning enforcement.
• Methods and techniques of planning, zoning and subdivision design.
• Current literature, information sources and research techniques in the field of urban planning.
• Technology pertinent to the planning function.
• Applicable Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations governing zoning, land use, and environmental protection.
• Laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions.
• Principles and practice of program development and administration.
• Ensures cross-discipline communication with Building, Engineering, Transportation or other applicable divisions and departments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands and environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The position involves medium physical demands, such as exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects.

The City of Maricopa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $59,357.00 - $90,239.33 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $59,357 - $90,239