Associate​/Senior Planner - Land Use

Associate Planner

This is a full journey-level class in the Planner series. Incumbents are expected to perform the full range of professional and technical planning work in all the following areas: current, advance, and/or environmental planning activities and daily departmental operations, in addition to providing project management and administration. Positions at this level perform the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercise judgement and initiative.

This is the advanced level class in the Planner series. Incumbents plan, develop, and implement policies and procedures for town-wide initiatives as well as development and administration of departmental policies, procedures, and services. Incumbents aid the Director in a variety of administrative, analytical, and liaison capacities. This class is distinguished from the Associate Planner in that it is responsible for the most complex, analytical, and programmatic functions within the division.

• Reviews routine to complex commercial, industrial, and residential development proposals, plans, and applications for issuance of zoning clearance and for compliance with appropriate codes, ordinances, standards, laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Provides interpretations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Subdivision Map Act, and local environmental guidelines; identifies corrective actions to be taken by owners; recommends improvement and rehabilitation programs; conducts follow-up and re-check and approves or denies submittals.
• Reviews and signs off on plans, for zoning compliance, submitted for Building Plan check and permits. Assists the public at the front counter and on the phone, answering questions and providing information.
• Compiles information for a variety of studies and reports; researched, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population, and land use data and trends; researches and reviews previous entitlements and Town records; develops recommendations and prepares written reports on various planning matters and the Town’s General Plan; participates in the implementation and administration of the Town’s General Plan and development regulations.
• Researches, collects, records, analyzes, interprets, and summarizes statistical and demographic information; prepares spreadsheets and establishes and maintains a comprehensive database.
• Prepares and presents staff reports for the Town Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Committee, Zoning Administrator, Staff Review Committee, and various other committees and advisory boards as directed; prepares research, reports, maps, and conducts briefings and meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Town staff.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political, and other elements related to Town planning.
• Researching and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Practices of researching planning and land use issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to planning work.
• General concepts of architecture, landscaping, grading, drainage, and traffic and transportation engineering as they relate to the process of urban planning.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Project management and contract administration principles and techniques.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review.

Ability To

• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, Town Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Read plans and specifications and make effective site visits.
• Assess, monitor, and report environmental impact on and of various Town programs and…