Senior Development Planner

City of Altamonte Springs; Florida; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Altamonte Springs seeks an experienced planning professional to support Growth Management in current planning, development review, and land use regulation administration. You will assess complex applications for code conformity, participate in staff reports, and coordinate with boards and the public.

The role emphasizes project management, regulatory knowledge, and the use of GIS and enterprise permitting systems to improve efficiency and accountability in development review.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or related field with 3 years of related planning experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) for documents and data presentation.

Responsibilities

• Review development proposals for consistency with Land Development Code and policies.
• Coordinate Development Review Committee activities and internal reviews.
• Prepare staff reports, findings, and recommendations for boards.
• Research code amendments and process improvements of planning workflows.
• Guide applicants and the public through regulatory processes and information.
• Assist with enterprise systems for application tracking and plan review.
• Maintain current knowledge of planning laws and emerging municipal issues.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Zoning knowledge

GIS awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or related field

Master’s degree in Urban Planning

Tools

Energov

ArcInfo webmaps

Job description

Perform advanced professional planning work in support of current planning, development review, land development regulation administration, public hearing processes, and special projects for the Growth Management Department. This position reviews complex development applications for consistency with the City’s Land Development Code, policies, adopted plans, and applicable regulations; coordinates Development Review Committee activities; prepares technical findings, staff reports, code amendments, and recommendations; and communicates review outcomes to applicants, staff, boards, and the public. Work requires strong technical planning knowledge, sound professional judgment, project management skills, and the ability to manage multiple high-priority assignments within established deadlines.

• Review pre-application requests, site plans, plats, landscape plans, transfer of development rights applications, and related development submittals for conformance with the City’s Land Development Code, adopted policies, procedures, and other applicable regulations.
• Serve as a Development Review Committee reviewer and coordinate internal and cross-departmental development review activities, including comment coordination, technical review follow-up, applicant communication, and review process consistency.
• Analyze development proposals, identify regulatory issues, prepare written comments and findings, and communicate review results clearly to applicants, consultants, staff, and other departments.
• Prepare, review, and present staff reports, recommendations, and technical findings to the Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, or other assigned boards for development regulations, site plans, transfer of development rights applications, variances, conditional uses, easement vacations, and other public hearing applications.
• Research, draft, and prepare amendments to the Land Development Code, subdivision procedures, development review standards, department policies, workflows, forms, and related procedural materials.
• Conduct or assist with administrative planning and zoning reviews, including building permits, zoning confirmation letters, address assignment requests, business tax receipt zoning conformance reviews, and other administrative determinations as assigned.
• Guide applicants, property owners, residents, consultants, and the public through the City’s regulatory system by providing accurate zoning, development review, procedural, and technical information.
• Assist with implementation, testing, improvement, and staff use of enterprise systems for application tracking, permitting, plan review, and development review processing.
• Assist with evaluating and recommending revisions to workflows, policies, procedures, and system configurations to improve development review efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
• Support staff training related to development review procedures, application tracking systems, review workflows, code interpretation, and department practices.
• Utilize current technology and department systems, including Microsoft Office, GIS web maps, databases, enterprise permitting systems, and other tools used for planning, review, analysis, and public presentations.
• Manage multiple complex and high-priority projects simultaneously while meeting review deadlines, public hearing schedules, agenda requirements, and other applicable timeframes.
• Maintain current knowledge of legal and regulatory issues, planning trends, development practices, statutory requirements, and emerging issues in municipal planning and development review.
• Maintains the confidentiality of protected information in accordance with applicable laws and City policies.
• Undertake and manage special projects, technical studies, process improvements, or policy initiatives as assigned by the Director or Development Services Manager.
• Drive to and from work sites, run office-related errands. (City vehicle will be provided)
• Perform additional duties as assigned. Be available for emergency call-outs.
• In the event of an emergency, all employees are considered essential and may be required to perform duties outside of their normal job description.
• Complete required trainings as specified within the City Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or directly related field and three (3) years of progressive experience in general city/county planning of a responsible nature, to include principles and practices of zoning and development services. An equivalent combination of related education, training and experience will be considered.
• Intermediate level experience with Microsoft Office, to include Word and Excel with the ability to use graphics, tables, formulas, headers/footers, and tools to format documents.

PREFERABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning or a directly related field.
• Experience in local government planning and development.
• Experience with Florida Growth Management laws.
• Experience utilizing ArcInfo webmaps or similar.
• Experience reviewing civil engineering site plans.
• Experience utilizing Energov permit and plan management software.
• Experience drafting technical documents such as review comments memos and staff reports.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or equivalent professional certification.
• Urban design skills
• Willingness to adopt AI and emerging technologies.

Applicants must authorize and undergo fingerprint-based state and national criminal history screening. Employees in this position are subject to continuous criminal history monitoring throughout employment.

This position may require occasional operation of a City or personal vehicle for City business. Employees must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and meet City driving eligibility standards.

Personal Vehicle Use:

Employees authorized to use a personal vehicle for City business must maintain a valid vehicle registration and automobile insurance meeting applicable legal requirements and City policy.

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