Planner I/II

The City of Wheat Ridge is seeking a motivated individual to join the Community Development team as a Planner I or Planner II, depending on experience.  The ideal candidate will enjoy problem solving and collaboration, value high quality customer service, communicate clearly, and demonstrate initiative.  Primary responsibilities of the Planner I/II include managing the pre-application process including intake, scheduling, and analysis; sharing in Planner of the Day (POD) responsibilities; approving business licenses and short-term rental applications; completing GIS tasks; and managing variances and special use permits.   This person will be trained to review building permits and to manage increasingly complicated development cases including subdivisions, site plans, and zone changes as well as code amendments.   They will also participate in the City's development review team, support public engagement efforts, and support implementation of City Council's strategic plan.  This position will include occasional night meetings.
Wheat Ridge is an inner-ring suburb of Denver that has been experiencing growth and change over the last decade, including transit-supportive development near the Wheat Ridge · Ward Station, new infrastructure and development at Clear Creek Crossing, master planning at the Lutheran Medical Center campus and on 44th Avenue, bond-funded infrastructure projects, and infill projects of all sizes. Over the last several years, the City has made an effort to shift its organizational culture to engage the community in more meaningful ways with the launch of the Let's Talk Resident Engagement Program, Wheat Ridge Speaks, and What's Up Wheat Ridge. 
The City of Wheat Ridge supports professional development by funding training opportunities, and by funding and encouraging AICP certification.  The City has a flexible work policy whereby team members may earn the privilege of working from home for two days during the workweek.   

Definition:

Under specified supervision, performs professional and technical work in planning and development for the City of Wheat Ridge including current and long-range planning functions.

Essential Duties: (The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.):
This position serves two primary functions: current planning and plans reviewer. 
Current Planning: Serves as case manager on various land use applications, ranging from routine to complex and difficult, such as annexations, zone change requests, subdivisions and site development permits. This role may include: consultation with applicant; facilitation of neighborhood meetings; posting/publishing notices; coordination with other departments and service providers; analysis of an application with respect to the City’s regulations, requirements of service providers, and good planning practices; written reports summarizing staff analysis and recommendations; and presentations to the appropriate board or commission including the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission and/or City Council.  
Management of land use applicant pre-application meeting process including review of submittals, preparation and distribution of materials, preparation of exhibits and preparation of meeting minutes. 

Analyzes existing zoning and development codes, including making recommendations, writing code revisions/changes/additions as well as coordinating the public involvement process, demographic research, surveys and assessments, data collection and analysis, public meeting presentations and facilitation and drafting of code text.  

Attends evening meetings and make presentations to Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, City Council, committees, task forces and community groups as needed; may represent City on various regional planning advisory committees, such as those affiliated with the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

Advises citizens, applicants, co-workers, superiors, other departments, and board and commission members on zoning and planning regulations, policies and procedures; prepare and update graphics and maps; provide copies of plans and development documents as requested by the public.  Serves as Planner-of-the-Day responding to walk-in customers and approving certain over-the-counter permits in coordination with other planners.

Plans Reviewer: Reviews building permit submittals for compliance with zoning regulations for a wide range of residential and commercial projects, including, but not limited to new single-family homes, multifamily construction, residential additions and remodels, accessory structures, new commercial construction and upgrades.

Writes comment letters and communicates with applicants when corrections are required. Interprets and explains the requirements of the zoning code to a wide range of customers, including builders, contractors, homeowners, business owners, design professionals, and other interested parties

Completes field inspections after completion of construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and conditions, including setbacks, parking, landscaping, and architectural Cites and records corrections when found and re-inspects to ensure issues have been corrected.

Performs periodic reporting of permit and inspection activity.

Performs same day permit review for walk-in customers with eligible projects during designated weekly times.

Participate in the division and development review teams, including standing weekly meetings.

Serves as a primary contact for the Planning/Zoning Division as it relates to pending and active building permits.

Tracks and coordinates requirements prior to issuance of COs established in associated development agreements.

Other Duties: Conducts research and/or analysis for short-term, long-term, and special projects as assigned; make changes to or create forms, pamphlets, or checklists to assist the public; revise, update, and create when needed official zoning maps; maintain files of permanent mapping records. 

Prepares mapping and informational resources, maps, and databases for the Long-Range and Current Planning Divisions. This includes maintaining, revising and updating data layers, zoning, comprehensive plan-future land use, district and informational maps and facilitate changes to the official zoning maps and managing official city Mylar records.

Performs related work as required and assigned.

Supervision Received:
Works under the direct supervision of the Planning Manager.
Supervision Exercised:
None. The Senior Planner may be assigned to supervise one planner, at the discretion of the Director or Planning Manager.

 Desired Attributes:

• Strong work ethic and self-accountable for high quality and timely work. 
• Self-motivated and possesses an internal drive to pursue work.
• Resourceful to identify and use a variety of tools needed for problem solving.
• Adaptable to changing and at times difficult situations.
• Active listener who can understand and translate the needs of diverse customers.

Qualifications:

Knowledge: Modern comprehensive urban design and land use planning principles and practices; legal principles of land use including but not limited to zoning and subdivision regulations and best practices; statistics and standards; general office computer software, including the following: database, spreadsheets, word processing and presentation software as contained in the Microsoft Office platform; geographic information systems (GIS) and computer aided design; preference for knowledge of map making and graphic design principles, practices and equipment, including desktop publishing. Knowledge of urban design and the ability to blend architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning together to make urban areas functional and attractive.

Skills: Demonstrated skill in the operation of equipment necessary to perform the functions of the job. Strong customer service skills as well as skilled to work with tact and diplomacy with diverse constituents and difficult customers. Analytical skills to review applications relative to applicable local/state/federal laws and to identify creative solutions to challenging planning zoning issues. Intermediate knowledge and experience with ArcGIS desirable. Public speaking skills required.  

Abilities: Carry planning assignments to completion; analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information; read and interpret plans, regulations, maps, and written communication; write staff reports, plans and plan implementation documents; present at and facilitate varied types of public meetings.

Evidence of Qualifications:

Planning Technician

Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in urban planning or related field with a minimum of six (6) months experience in land use planning for a municipal agency or related area OR a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning.

Planner I

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or related field required with a minimum of two (2) years experience in land use planning for a municipal agency or related area OR a Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field with a minimum of one (1) year experience in land use planning for a municipal agency or related area. 

Planner II

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or related field required; Master’s degree preferred. Minimum of four (4) years’ experience in urban design and land use planning for a municipal agency required; however, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning may substitute for two (2) years’ experience. AICP preferred.

Senior Planner

Master’s degree in urban planning or related field required.   Minimum of five (5) years related experience in development review and land use planning for a municipal agency or equivalent thereof required; additional experience preferred. AICP preferred.

Special Requirements:

Possess a current and valid Colorado Driver License or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire. Must meet city policy standards pertaining to driver’s license requirements.

Independence Of Action:
This position resides within the planner series. The City of Wheat Ridge values career progression.
Planning Tech and Planner I
Under direction, this is the entry-level class in the Planner series.   Work performed at this level is routine and moderately complex. Work is performed in accordance with standard practices and methods requiring initiative to complete recurring assignments independently and judgment to determine which of many methods are applicable in any given situation.  Work is closely observed and reviewed both during performance and upon completion. 
Planner II
This is a mid-level class in the Planner series.  Work performed at this level is more complex in nature.  Work is performed within authorized limits prescribed by the supervisor and/or policy.   Exercises independent judgment in selecting and interpreting information, handling deviations from standard methods and resolving problems.  Finished work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and adherence to deadlines.  Supervisor is available to assist in solving problems.
Senior Planner
This is an advanced position in the Planner series. Work performed at this level is advanced and complex in nature.   Work is performed within authorized limits prescribed by the supervisor and/or policy.  Exercises independent judgment in selecting and interpreting information, handling deviations from standard methods and resolving problems.  Finished work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and adherence to deadlines.  Supervisor is available to assist in solving problems. May supervise other planner(s).

Working Conditions/Physical And Mental Effort:
This position is primarily working indoors completing tasks such as reading material and writing reports, papers, correspondence and other documents.   This portion of the job will require acute mental skills, a lengthy attention span and involves sitting, walking, and standing.  Work requires a high degree of manual skill, the ability to hear, focus on close work, and use hands to fingers.  Some outdoor activity will be required in an environment that involves occasional exposure to slippery or uneven walking surfaces, dust, dirt, heat, and cold.   The ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner both in writing, through graphics, and verbally are essential to this position.  Interaction with customers and co-workers is an everyday occurrence and requires the ability to direct, negotiate and mediate.

City Values:
All team members are expected to adhere to the organizational values of ACTION! (Accountability, Change, Teamwork, Integrity, Opportunity, Now!) and are responsible for contributing to the achievements of the organization and department. Team members are expected to continue to grow professionally and to apply learning in their job setting. 

An Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office

Salary : $58,849 - $87,360