Senior Planner

City of Anacortes; Anacortes (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Anacortes is seeking a qualified planner to analyze current land development plans and long-range land use strategies. The role requires applying professional knowledge within established guidelines to determine facts, analyze problems, and propose amendments to Comprehensive Plan and Code.

Typical duties include reviewing land development requests, coordinating with departments, and representing the city in public meetings.

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in urban land use planning and development.
• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, environmental planning, geography, public administration or related field is required.

Responsibilities

• Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations for approval or denial of land development requests.
• Assists in implementing permit applications from application to issuance; assess completeness and conformity with plans.
• Monitors compliance of permitted projects with land use conditions through construction and occupancy.
• Conducts development review group meetings with developers, consultants, and citizens.
• Coordinates review of development proposals with city departments and agencies.
• Participates in public meetings and hearings about development activity and comprehensive planning.
• Provides information to the public and other jurisdictions regarding land use regulations.
• Reviews and recommends on city land use policies; drafts ordinances and policy documents.
• May serve as lead planner for specific projects.

Skills

Urban land use planning

Public policy analysis

Project coordination

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Job description

This position performs technical and policy analyses for current land development plans and long-range land use plans. The work performed requires incumbents to apply professional knowledge and expertise as well as established guidelines and alternatives to determine facts, analyze problems, and make decisions without immediate supervisory review; incumbents may respond to sensitive and complicated inquiries or problems related to departmental programs or policies. Typical assignments include analyzing land use proposals for consistency with adopted codes, developing proposed Comprehensive Plan and Code amendments.

1. Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations to management for approval or denial of a variety of private and public land development requests, including but not limited to rezones, conditional use, shoreline management, variance, boundary line adjustments, SEPA, binding site plan, commercial building permit, short plats, and subdivision permit applications.
2. Reviews, analyzes, and assists in implementing permit applications from application to issuance, including determining completeness of application and conformity with comprehensive plans and policies, regulations, and codes; inspecting and evaluating properties to determine physical characteristic compatibility with adjacent land uses; routing applications to other interested agencies and groups for comment; scheduling and conducting technical review meetings with applicants and other affected parties; negotiating redesign as appropriate; preparing and scheduling cases for public hearings; and reviewing final site plans and modifications.
3. Monitors compliance of permitted projects with land use conditions through construction and occupancy of the project.
4. Conducts development review group meetings with developers, consultants, and citizens to advise them of development regulations and policies; explains required submittals, the application review process, and timelines.
5. Coordinates review of development proposals by city departments and other affected agencies and incorporates agency comments into project review process; prepares department’s recommendations for decision-making officials.
6. Coordinates and/or participates in public meetings and hearings about development activity and comprehensive planning activities, including representing the department, preparing or supervising the preparation of written materials and oral presentations, and responding to questions and soliciting input as appropriate.
7. Provides information to the general public, other jurisdictions, and private officials regarding the city’s land use regulations on the telephone and at the customer service counter
8. Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations on city land use policies and regulations; drafts ordinances, plans, and policy documents identifying potential changes to the city’s land use regulations, policies, and practices.
9. May serve as lead planner for specific projects, coordinating and/or directing the work of lower level employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in urban land use planning and development. Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, environmental planning, and geography, public administration or related field is required.

Licenses and other requirements

Valid Washington State driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of urban land use planning and development
• Municipal, state, and federal statutes, ordinances, and codes related to municipal land use planning and development
• Comprehensive Planning, urban design, zoning, natural environment protection, historic preservation, and community sustainability
• Land use planning processes, research design and methods, and analysis techniques
• Policies, procedures, and operations of the city’s land use planning and development function

Ability to

• Direct and coordinate assigned staff and work activities
• Apply, interpret and explain complex legal and administrative information to the public, employees, and officials lacking technical knowledge
• Communicate effectively in oral and written form, one-on-one and with groups
• Prepare clear and concise reports on complex land use, zoning, and comprehensive planning issues
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new policies and procedures
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations
• Provide training, direction, assistance, and advice to others
• Prepare and administer budgets
• Interact and communicate professionally with various levels of employees, officials, and special interest groups
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Operate a personal computer and learn quickly to use the software programs of the department

LEVEL OF AUTHORITY

Manages responsibilities independently with only occasional direction, ensuring that applicable City ordinances, governing laws, departmental and city policies, and generally accepted procedures and practices are followed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, i.e., copier toner. Work is performed primarily in an office, which is busy, oriented to public service, and subject to constant work interruption. Employees may work under the stress of continual public and/or inter-departmental contact and pressure to meet deadlines. This position works a regular schedule; however, incumbents may be required to work some evening hours to attend public meetings.

PHYSICAL

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

OTHER

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility; but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individual may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

Following an offer of employment, and prior to starting work, individuals may be required to have a pre-employment physical examination by a physician designated by the City of Anacortes. The City will pay for the examination. Satisfactory clearance to perform essential job functions will be required for employment. As an absolute condition of employment, employees are required upon hire to sign a drug-free workplace agreement and an agreement not to use tobacco products in any form while on the job.

The City of Anacortes is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, creed, sex (including pregnancy), age (over 40), marital status, families with children, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, genetic information, sexual orientation including gender identity, or status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, or any other class protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.