Permits and Enforcement - Principal Land Use Planner

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Fort Wayne (IN)

On-site

USD 60,000 - 80,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Job summary

Allen County Department of Planning Services seeks a Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement to provide professional guidance, technical assistance, and zoning ordinance interpretation for community land use projects in Fort Wayne and surrounding Allen County. The role oversees permit review processes and coordinates with cities, towns, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities include assisting with policy interpretations, preparing zoning opinions, and coordinating with review agencies

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, or related field with three years of experience in land use management or zoning ordinance administration.
Valid Driver’s License to operate a county vehicle.
Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM) credential desirable or ability to obtain within 24 months.

Responsibilities

Assist with interpretation of policy and procedural requirements of Allen County and City of Fort Wayne zoning ordinances.
Process and review zoning ordinance land use change applications.
Review and approve lighting, buffering, signage, and site plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance and conditions of approval.
Provide technical planning assistance for land use change applications and zoning interpretations.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Customer service

Research and analytical skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Planning or related field

Tools

Accela permitting software

GIS mapping

Microsoft Office

Job description

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES

The Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department that provides permitting, enforcement, long range planning and staffs the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and 5 community jurisdictions.

Vision

Planning Leadership, Community Collaboration, Service Excellence

Mission

We are dedicated to superior economic development and land planning services through:

Proactive Approach to Responsible development and growth
Empowered and knowledgeable employees
Supporting Communities
Providing accurate, consistent information
Offering technological resources
Timely and responsive service

Service Commitment

DPS is committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner

For more information on the Department of Planning Services please visit our website at www.allencounty.in.gov/dps

Allen County Department of Planning Services

Principal Planner – Permits, Administration and Compliance

Our Vision:

Planning Leadership

Community Collaboration
Service Excellence

Our Mission:

Dedication to superior economic development and Land planning services through:

Empowered and knowledgeable employees
Supporting Communities
Providing accurate, consistent information
Offering technological resources
Timely and responsive service

Our Service Commitment:

Committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner

For more information on the Department of Planning Services please visit our website at www.allencounty.in.gov/dps

Under the direction of the Senior Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement, the Principal Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement is responsible for providing professional guidance, technical assistance, and zoning ordinance interpretation for community land use projects. This position is covered as defined by The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allen Employee Handbook.

Essential Functions

Assists staff and general public with interpretation of policy and procedural requirements of Allen County and City of Fort Wayne zoning ordinances.
Prepares zoning opinions, policy interpretations, and methods of implementation for land use projects, problems, and questions.
Assists incorporated cities and towns of Allen County, provides technical planning assistance for rezoning development, utility issues, ordinance, and development/monitoring of community plans.
Coordinates with reviewing agencies applicants, including architects, engineers, and contractors through the review process.
Develops process workflows and manuals for departmental operating procedures.
Provides assistance to incorporated cities and towns in Allen County by assisting with technical planning for land use change applications, Zoning ordinance regulations and interpretations.
Responsible for administering floodplain review of all permits and public hearing projects by coordinating with applicants, staff, other governmental agencies, and interested parties.
Serves as principal staff person in the updating, maintenance, and development of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.
Administers permit review process by coordinating with applicants, staff, other government agencies, and interested parties in reviewing, distributing, approving, and accurately conveying requirements for land use applications, site plans, and landscape plans.
Assists with the coordination of zoning ordinance enforcement for the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County from the initiation of a complaint to compliance or preparation in court documents with department attorney.
Assists with the preparation of court documents and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings.
Documents and conveys ordinance requirements in a comprehensible and concise fashion on any deficient ordinance standards and reviews any revisions for compliance.
Communicates by telephone, emails, letters, and face‑to‑face with the general public including, but not limited to, applicants, potential applicants, and general land use inquiries.
Fulfills research requests for information and guidance on zoning ordinances and department policies and procedures.
Coordinates with professionals associated with planning applications and projects including, but not limited to, surveyors, lawyers, engineers, architects, elected officials, and other government agencies.
Processes and approves commercial and industrial permits.
Compiles and researches information through the Department of Planning Services’ database, other government databases, paper files, and the Internet.
Maintains and organizes data from projects and correspondences.
Provides analytical and statistical information, builds and utilizes reports, and creates presentations to analyze office processes, trends, and community views for use in updating departmental generated reports, rules, and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Continued)

Assists applicants with permits and zoning ordinances land use change applications.
Processes and reviews zoning ordinance land use change applications.
Reviews and approves lighting, buffering, signage, and site plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance and conditions of approval.
Provides assistance to incorporated cities and towns in Allen County by assisting with technical planning for land use change applications, Zoning ordinance regulations, and interpretations.
Administers the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County sign ordinance by reviewing and approving sign permit applications.
Assists staff and general public with interpretation of policy and procedural requirements of Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne zoning ordinances.
Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, or related field with three year of experience in land use management or zoning ordinance administration
Valid Driver’s License to operate a county vehicle
Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM) credential desirable or the ability to be obtained within the first 24 months of employment
Demonstrated knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping
Zoning ordinance enforcement experience from initial complaint through preparation and testimony in Court
Experience in processing, reviewing and management of commercial and industrial projects
Knowledge of planning principles and practices to review plans and the ability to apply ordinance standards to determine compliance
Experience in using Accela permitting software desired
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills, including public speaking to effectively communicate complicated information to coworkers, the general public, and other government bodies
Knowledge of research practices and principles to apply to write reports and answer applicant questions
Strong customer service skills with the interest and willingness to work with others
Strong computer skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office and other job‑related software

Difficulty Of Work

The Principal Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement performs work that is broad in scope and involves significant consideration when administering permit review process by coordinating with applicants, staff and other government agencies. Judgement is used when processing and approving commercial and industrial permits.

Responsibility

The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement provides substantial contributions when fulfilling research requests for information and guidance on zoning ordinances and department policies and procedures. Purpose and desire results are indicated when communicating by telephone, emails, letters and face‑to‑face with the general public including applicants, potential applicants and general land use inquires.

Personal Work Relationships

The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement maintains frequent contact with other county employees, other government officials and the general public when coordinating the Fort Wayne and Allen County permitting process.

Working Conditions

The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement works in a standard office environment with the ability to move about freely frequently sitting and transcribing/proofreading and very frequent mental/visual effort, typing and attention to detail. Some lifting of up to twenty pounds, bending, pushing/pulling loads, monitoring equipment and detailed inspection are to be expected.

Supervision

None

Licensing

Valid Driver’s License to operate a county vehicle

Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM) credential desirable or the ability to obtain within the first 24 months of employment

Immediate Supervisor

Senior Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement

Hours

40 hours/week; including overtime as required

Eeo Category

1002

Worker’s Comp Code