Planner

Overview: 

Under general direction of the Manager of Engineering Services, the City Planner performs professional planning work involving both administrative and technical responsibilities in comprehensive short- and long-range planning. This role includes conducting research, analyzing zoning and land use, and providing expert advice to boards, commissions, and the City Council on urban planning and development. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Perform long- and short-range planning studies on zoning, land use, population, and socio-economic trends. 

• Serve as a liaison between the public, developers, builders, governmental agencies, and local representatives. 

• Collaborate with consultants and department representatives on project requirements. 

• Review and process site development plans, subdivision plats, variance requests, rezoning applications, and annexation proposals for compliance with city codes, ordinances, and the Comprehensive Plan. Identify and communicate any necessary adjustments to applicants. 

• Provide advice, direction, and recommendations to Boards, Commissions, and the City Council regarding planning and development. 

• Conduct research for rezoning, variances, and city code amendments.  

• Draft public notices for newspaper publications, prepare notification letters, and present findings as required.  

• Partner with code compliance officer to identify violations, drafting notices, and take corrective action as needed. 

• Conduct pre-development meetings with potential developers to clarify project requirements before formal  submission of development applications. 

• Research, collect, analyze, and interpret data, summarizing it into comprehensive reports. 

• Prepare and deliver presentations using visual aids like maps, graphs, and PowerPoint. 

• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations. 

• Assist with updates to and maintenance of the Comprehensive Plan, Master Plans, and Unified Development Code. 

• Conduct field evaluations and assessments to verify site conditions, evaluate compliance, inspect correction of noted violations, and perform data gathering and analysis as needed. 

• Identify grant opportunities and assist in preparing grant applications for community development, infrastructure, and environmental projects. 

• Attend regular and special evening meetings for Commissions, Boards, and City Council meetings as needed.  

• Performs other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Urban Planning, Architecture, Geography, or a closely related field. 

• Two (2) years of full-time experience in urban, municipal or regional planning or a closely related field. 

• An equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job may also be considered.   

• Valid Class C Texas driver’s license. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification preferred. 

• Master's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Urban Planning, Architecture, Geography, or a closely related field.  

• Experience with specialized planning software such as geographical information systems like ArcGIS, AutoCAD, or Adobe Creative Suite. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office. 

Knowledge, Skills Abilities: 

Knowledge of: 

• Experience with developing long-range community plans and strategies for economic and community development. 

• Government regulations, rules, and procedures including Texas Local Government Code (LGC), Open Meetings Act (TOMA), and the Texas Public Information Act (PIA).  

• Community and urban planning principles, practices, and methods. 

• Zoning regulations, community standards, and building codes. 

• Environmental and economic development trends affecting municipal planning.  

• Familiarity with local, state, and federal laws related to urban development. 

Skills to: 

• Interpret and apply local, state, and federal regulations related to land use and development. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing and delivering presentations to diverse audiences, including city officials and the public. 

• Strong skills in writing reports, developing resolutions, and drafting ordinances. 

• Proficient in utilizing statistical methodologies and data interpretation for decision-making. 

• Capable of performing complex problem analyses and developing effective solutions to support planning recommendations. 

• Strong customer service skills and ability to work independently or within a team. 

Ability to: 

• Analyze and interpret zoning and city maps, reports, and legal documents. 

• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with other city employees, commissioners, council members, and the public. 

• Exercise sound judgment and provide clear, practical solutions to complex planning challenges. 

• Adapt to changing regulations, community needs, and planning priorities. 

Physical Demands: 

• Regularly requires sitting, talking, hearing, visual acuity, standing, walking, manual dexterity, use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, and controls.   

• Must be able to walk, stand, stretch, bend, twist, stoop, kneel and operate assigned equipment.   

• May require frequent lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or moving items up to 30 lbs. and occasionally up to 50 lbs.