Planner

Job Summary:

This position involves responsible professional work in the field of city planning, requiring an understanding of planning principles and concepts, including the capability of managing projects and leading efforts to establish and refine City programs and policies.  Requires the application of knowledge and skills in city planning to achieve sound development or redevelopment and desirable public policy objectives.

Preferred application date is April 20, 2018 but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Duties:

• Provides developers and the public with information pertaining to municipal development requirements and standards. Meets with developers and property owners and advises them of the City’s procedures, regulations and requirements pertaining to land development.
• Helps coordinate the City’s development review process with the Technical Review Committee and prepares reports and recommendations to the Plan Commission and other Boards and Committees under the direction of the Planning Director.
• Assists with the preparation of Plan Commission meeting agendas and the Commission’s findings of fact and recommendations which are submitted to the City Council as well as the Board of Zoning Appeals’ agendas and findings.
• Serves as the primary staff liaison to the City’s Transit Commission and other boards and commissions as directed by the Planning Director.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on various types of development applications, including but not limited to, proposed land annexations, land divisions, subdivision plats, rezonings, planned developments, and conditional use permits.
• Provides written and oral reports to the Plan Commission, Transit Commission, and other City Boards and Commissions identifying the long-range issues that pertain to each respective development and the current planning objectives to implement the Comprehensive Plan.
• Prepares grant applications related to various transit and transportation and/or housing related projects and programs.
• Serves as a liaison to various regional and statewide transportation and housing organizations and agencies, including the Madison Area MPO; WisDOT, WHEDA, and the Dane County Housing Authority.
• Assists in the review and updating of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinances, and the City’s Official Zoning Map.
• Compiles necessary data and information required to prepare detailed reports on a wide variety of planning issues.  Develops technical studies and reports on various proposals that will affect the economic and physical development of the City.
• Makes application for various federal and state grant programs and administers the funds once they are awarded to the City.  Maintains all necessary program records.
• Compiles information and prepares recommendation for updates of the City’s Comprehensive Plan for the review by the Planning Director.
• Implements the approved Comprehensive Plan which includes ensuring that all development that occurs within the City and its extraterritorial jurisdiction area is consistent with the approved Comprehensive Plan and its various elements.
• Provides mapping for the department and other city departments as needed, including the maintenance and updating of the City’s Zoning Map.
• Assists with the update and maintenance of the department’s web page.
• May be required to assist in the assignment and review of work performed by interns.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of city planning usually attained through a degree in urban planning, public administration, or a related field from an accredited college/university with at least five to seven years experience in community planning or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Requires considerable knowledge of following: Land use planning, zoning, and land division procedures and techniques; Data collection and analysis as it pertains to comprehensive city planning; Skill in preparing graphics, maps, tables, and charts for plans and staff reports; Effective writing and public speaking skills; and ability to work effectively with community groups, elected officials, developers, and other City staff.
• Direct experience in the areas of Transportation Planning, Housing, and/or Comprehensive Planning, including familiarity with state and federal programs, policies, and funding opportunities in these areas.
• Ability to present results of research effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, appointed commissioners, citizen groups, developers, and the general public.
• Experience in the use of GIS software for the purpose of creating maps and completing miscellaneous planning related studies.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred.

Apply online at link included