Principal Planner

Purpose

This position is considered a Safety‑Sensitive position. Applicants who pass the interview process will be subject to drug and alcohol testing. The purpose of this role is to plan for the orderly growth of the City, administer the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Design Guidelines, and Subdivision Regulations.

• Prepare meeting agenda, staff comments, illustrations, and legal notice for Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Review preliminary and final plats, site plans, and architectural elevations for compliance with the City’s Subdivision Regulations, Zoning Ordinance, and Design Guidelines.
• Present to the Planning Commission in a public televised setting and serve in an advisory role while conveying an understanding of development challenges; advise the Planning Commission regarding annexation, zoning change, and land use topics.
• Present cases to Board of Zoning Appeals and provide professional guidance.
• Present to City Council in a public hearing setting; present the Planning Commission’s recommendations to the City Council and answer questions in a televised, public hearing setting.
• Advise the public regarding zoning district boundaries, corporate limits, development requirements and procedures, the National Flood Insurance Program, and the appeals and amendment procedures.
• Evaluate compliance with zoning and other city ordinances through visual on‑site inspections and investigations.
• Research demographic and economic information and write reports for the Planning Director, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historic Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Address public bodies regarding development plans, zoning applications, ordinance amendments, and annexation requests.
• Review new development plans for compliance with addressing/street naming issues as well as Board of Zoning Appeals issues; confer with potential Board of Zoning Appeals applicants to discuss application process and zoning requirements.
• Review building permit applications for zoning compliance.
• Investigate possible violations of the City’s Zoning Ordinance and enforce the ordinance as needed.

Performs other work as assigned.

Work is performed typically standing and sitting; however, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing stairs and ladders, and lifting arms overhead, traversing rough and uneven terrain, and lifting equipment and objects weighing up to fifty (50) pounds is required on an intermittent basis.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or related field.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience as an Urban Planner.

• Valid driver’s license.
• AICP certification preferred but not required.

The City of Murfreesboro is an Equal Opportunity Employer.