Zoning Planner - Senior Planner I

County Of Albemarle; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

Paid vacation and sick leave

Health insurance options with employer

Employer-paid life insurance

VRS retirement

Continuing education/training

Job summary

The Albemarle County Community Development Department seeks a Senior Planner I in the Zoning Division to evaluate building, sign permits, and zoning clearances for compliance with the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance.

The ideal candidate will interpret regulations, communicate required corrections clearly, and manage multiple reviews within deadlines, coordinating with Health and Transportation departments and other staff.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in planning or related field.
• Two years of professional planning experience including reviewing site development plans or zoning maps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with GIS tools and ESRI products.
• Ability to interpret different state and local codes and communicate requirements clearly.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate building permits, sign permits, zoning clearances for compliance with the zoning ordinance.
• Review plats, architectural drawings, and other documents to assess development proposals.
• Identify deficiencies and communicate corrections to applicants and design professionals.
• Coordinate reviews with County staff and partner agencies; manage multiple reviews on deadlines.

Skills

Planning experience

Regulatory interpretation

Communication skills

GIS familiarity

Public engagement

Education

Master’s degree in planning

Tools

GIS basics

ESRI software

Microsoft Office

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Zoning Planner - Senior Planner I

Community Development Full Time Regular EEO4 Professionals Charlottesville, VA, US

Community Development Department - County of Albemarle, VA

Full-Time, 12 Months

Exempt, Pay Grade 33

The Albemarle County Community Development Department is seeking candidates for a Senior Planner I position in the Zoning Division. The Zoning Planner evaluates building permits, sign permits, zoning clearances, and other development applications for compliance with the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance and applicable approvals.

This position works directly with applicants, property owners, design professionals, County staff, and partner agencies. The successful candidate will interpret regulations and development plans, identify compliance issues, clearly explain required corrections, and manage multiple reviews within established deadlines.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Reviewing building permits, sign permits, zoning clearances, and other zoning applications for compliance with applicable zoning requirements;
• Reviewing property records, approved plans, proffers, zoning maps, plats, architectural drawings, and other information needed to evaluate applications;
• Determining applicable zoning districts, permitted uses, setbacks, building height, parking, landscaping, and other development standards;
• Identifying application deficiencies and clearly communicating required corrections to applicants and design professionals;
• Reviewing subdivision plats and site plans for compliance with applicable zoning and subdivision requirements, as assigned;
• Coordinating reviews with other Community Development staff and agencies such as the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Transportation;
• Responding to questions concerning zoning requirements, subdivision matters, development rights, and additional dwellings;
• Providing applicants with information about application requirements, review procedures, and related County processes;
• Documenting review findings and maintaining accurate application records in the County’s permitting system;
• Assisting with zoning-related policy and ordinance updates, including the Zoning Modernization project; and
• Performing related work consistent with the Planner or Senior Planner I classification.

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree with a major in planning or a related field
• Two (2) years of relevant professional planning work experience including:
• reviewing administrative applications such as site development plans and subdivision plats,
• reviewing legislative applications such as special use permits and zoning map
• amendments and
• interpreting and understanding different state and local codes and regulations;

OR, any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Computer experience necessary
• o Proficiency with Microsoft office suite
• o ESRI products and/or navigating GIS web
• o Some experience and ability to use spreadsheets and databases.

Preferred Qualifications/Certifications:

• Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia preferred.
• AICP preferred.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Typically involves walking/standing in an office environment to meet public, give presentations, work with other departments, and retrieving files.
• Site visits may involve walking in fairly rugged terrain.
• Site visits may be required during adverse weather conditions.
• Field work and site visits require spatial interpretation, judging heights, distances, slopes and the like.
• Involves light lifting up to 30 pounds.
• Other physical activities including use of computers and motor vehicle operation.
• Frequent and regular contacts made at all levels of county staff and the general public.
• Communication may require diplomacy, persuasion and tact, including conflict resolution under adversarial conditions.

Remote Work:

• This position is eligible for a hybrid remote work schedule that is in compliance with the County’s Remote Work Policy and meets the operational and service needs for the position. All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Salary Range:

• The hiring range for the Senior Planner I position is $35.70 - $39.45 per hour (approx. $74,259 - $82,075 per year. Starting offer is based on applicable education beyond minimum requirements and internal equity. The position also provides excellent benefits including 12 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities. This is a full time, FLSA exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, §P-60.

Albemarle County is a certified V3 organization.

EOE/EEO:

Albemarle County is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any group or individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in regards to any aspect of employment policy and practice: recruitment, testing, selection, assignment, pay, conditions of work, training, leave, overtime, promotion, discipline, demotion, and separation.