City Planner

City of Horace ND; North Dakota; On-site; USD 52,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Horace ND seeks a Planner to perform professional and technical duties in planning, zoning, and code enforcement. The role includes guiding developers, reviewing land use applications for compliance, and coordinating with City Departments and stakeholders.

Responsibilities include preparing staff reports, presenting to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and maintaining digital case files. Strong communication and GIS skills are required, with a degree in a related field and a valid

Qualifications

• Certificate or Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Community Development, Urban and Regional Studies, Geography, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Meet with the public to review planning, building and development plans and guide applicants through the process.
• Explain conditional use permits, rezonings, variances, and related permit processes.
• Review land use applications for compliance and prepare staff reports.
• Present recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Coordinate meetings and review processes with other agencies and stakeholders.
• Maintain organized digital case files and assist with staff reports and publications.

Skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Community Development, Urban and Regional Studies, Geography, Public Administration, Business Administration

High School diploma with 4 years of public entity experience

Tools

ESRI GIS

Job description

Under administrative direction, the Planner is to perform a variety of professional and technical duties related to Planning, Zoning, Code Enforcement, and other land use matters (including: providing guidance to developers on current zoning regulations and development requirements, reviewing land use applications for technical compliance, collaborating with City Departments, Consultants, and Stakeholders). The position receives technical guidance from, and reports to, the Community Development Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meets with the public to review and discuss planning, building, and development plans and guide applicants through the appropriate process.
• Instruct and inform the public concerning conditional use permits, rezoning and variances, permit applications and processes, lot splits, and related issues.
• Research, interpret, collect data, apply, and enforce city ordinances (zoning, land use, municipal code, etc.).
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Process development and zoning permit applications, including reviewing application documents, site visits, preparing staff reports, and presenting recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
• Coordinates meetings, land use applications, and review processes with other affected agencies and parties.
• Research and prepare information packets, responses, legal publications, required mailings and notifications, oral or written presentations, correspondence, and related records.
• Maintains organized and accurate digital Case Files.
• Assists in creating, reviewing, and editing staff reports, legal publications, presentations, correspondence, and other documents.
• Performs field inspections for architectural and/or landscape compliance.
• Knowledge of land use ordinances and codes.
• Knowledge of standard practices and procedures for plan, permit, and license application review, evaluation and approval, including documentation.
• Ability to review and properly interpret local, state and federal laws.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Certificate or Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Community Development, Urban and Regional Studies, Geography, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field; or High School diploma and 4 years of experience with a public entity or related field.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow departments, employees, supervisory personnel, outside agencies, the public, developers/builders, citizen groups, and other interested/affected parties, including in difficult and sometimes adversarial circumstances.
• Intermediate level of computer proficiency with word processing and database software, preferably Microsoft Office programs.
• Valid driver’s license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree in Planning, Community Development, Urban and Regional Studies, or Geography.
• 2 years experience with a public entity or related field.
• Zoning ordinance development and enforcement.
• Experience with ESRI GIS software.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

This position requires the incumbent to:

• Have sufficient clarity of speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively on the telephone and in person.
• Have sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions and review, evaluate, and prepare a variety of written/typed documents and materials.
• Have sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate standard office equipment and computer.
• Personal mobility, agility, balance, strength, and flexibility to work in an office environment that requires sitting for long periods of time, keyboarding, and occasionally lifting objects up to 25 lbs.
• Performing repetitive hand movement in gripping, and hand/wrist/arm movements. Related job tasks may require, with or without reasonable accommodation, walking, standing, sitting, stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, crouching, pushing, grasping, and reaching.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office environment.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.