Senior City Planner

General Summary

Are you passionate about planning and community development and interested in working for a City that is creative, eclectic, inclusive and diverse?

If you enjoy a variety of tasks, from reviewing development projects to improving processes and software, this position is for you. You'll also have opportunities to contribute to a rewrite of the City's Land Use Code and it's first area planning project.

The planning division includes two senior planners focusing on development review and historic preservation, two planning managers for current and long-range planning efforts, and the Planning and Building Director, who also oversees the Building Division and Code Enforcement in addition to the Planning Division. An administrative coordinator provides additional support.

The City is currently seeking a Senior City Planner who will primarily focus on development review but will have opportunities to be involved in long range planning initiatives. The City is committed to excellent customer service and is currently implementing several improvements, including new permitting software and a Land Use Code rewrite. These efforts will be crucial for successfully implementing the City's award-winning Legacy Lafayette Comprehensive Plan.

The Planning Division has an ambitious set of projects currently underway, including:

• Development review process improvements

• Creation of a new Land Development Code (hybrid code)

• Implementation of new project tracking and permitting software, and a development review website and community engagement platform

• Implementation of our Economic Development and Housing Strategic Plan

• Implementation of the comprehensive plan

• Implementation of the recently adopted Multi-modal Transportation Plan, Wildlife Plan, and Climate Action Plan

• Implementation of accessory dwelling unit and short-term rental programs

• The City's first small area planning effort

• Implementation of state mandates, such as the Transit-Oriented Communities bill

The city is also experiencing steady growth with several large residential development projects underway, infill projects in our historic old town neighborhood, annexation requests and mixed-use transit-oriented opportunities near planned bus rapid transit lines.

We are a small but very talented and dedicated group of professionals, and this position offers an exciting opportunity to work in both an incredible City and work on a variety of projects that span unique development projects and several code, process and software updates. The ideal candidate will possess a wide variety of planning and urban design experience, excellent communication skills, and be well organized, customer and employee focused, and eager to contribute to the success of the City.

About the City

Lafayette has an inescapable small-town feeling that provides a sense of belonging and connection. Whether it's eclectic Old Town, distinctive neighborhoods, or unique arts and outdoors spaces, the City has a warmth and character all its own, offering a unique vibe and spirit. Lafayette has appeared on numerous national lists of top places to live and safely raise a family.

We are a full-service City, which means services are provided directly to our community such as Police, Fire, Public Works, Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Library and Community Arts Center. These types of services offer employment opportunities for a wide array of interests. The City's mission is to recruit, develop and retain a diverse, well-qualified and professional workforce that reflects the unique personality of the community we serve.

Exceptional City Provided Benefits:

• 100% City-paid Medical, Dental, Vision (up to $25,980 annually for family coverage)

• 401A Retirement Plan (10.2% City, 8% Employee, immediately 100% vested upon hire)

• Life Insurance (One year's salary up to $150,000. AD&D coverage in equal amount)

• Tuition Assistance (up to $5000 per year for approved expenses)

• Employee Assistance Program (free counseling, travel assistance, legal aid, etc)

• Short and Long-Term Disability

• Bilingual Pay

Additional Benefits:

• Deferred Compensation and Roth Options

• Voluntary Life Insurance/AD&D

• Identity Theft Program

• Recreation Center Pass

• Wellness Punch Card (100 punches per year to use at golf course, waterpark, etc)

Leave:

• First year employees will accrue 80 hours Vacation

• 96 hours Sick Leave

• 24 hours Floating Holiday Leave

• 11.5 paid City holidays.

• Other leave programs are offered to include FMLA, Parental and Bereavement Leave

Essential Functions

The following duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive:

Current Planning

• Conducts building permit reviews for compliance with planning approvals.

• Reviews and processes sign permits.

• Responds to citizens' requests for information and to inquiries from other governmental agencies and to professional inquiries.

• Answers inquiries about zoning code, subdivision regulations, procedures for Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings and all other current planning functions.

• Utilizes a city-wide network project database that records all contacts, decisions, permits, and other pertinent information related to projects.

• Maintains planning related files.

• Host pre-application meetings with residents, business owners, and/or developers to discuss application processes and submittal requirements.

• Attend and present at meetings of the Planning Commission, City Council, the Zoning Board of Adjustment or other boards and commissions.

• Performs staff review of subdivisions, special uses, site plan and architectural reviews, landscape and lighting plans, etc.

• Coordinates the review process, rezoning, or amendment process of project team members, reviews each team member's comments to determine consistencies and address potential problems, issues, and concerns, and resolves conflicts.

• Works with a team of city personnel to review a customer's project or request, determines which permits, licenses, approvals, standards, guidelines, ordinances, rules, and regulations a customer needs to obtain for a project or request to move forward.

• Works with customers to ensureplans and applications conform to applicable codes, rules, and regulations, the comprehensive plan, and other specialized city plans.

• Assists in maintaining City's address data base and may be responsible for assigning new addresses.

• May advise planning committees, neighborhood groups, City Council, and other stakeholders on planning issues, procedures, processes, historical preservation procedures, zoning issues, ordinance changes, and environmental regulations and requirements.

• Serves as a consultant to other city agencies and boards on routine zoning issues and explains the zoning code and rules and regulations to the public.

Long Range Planning

• Analyzes data, formulates recommendations, and prepares reports.

• Represents the City on multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional planning efforts ranging from affordable housing, transportation, and other regional collaboration opportunities.

• Assists in the preparation of technical and statistical information, such as existing conditions reports and general research.

• Prepares a variety of visual materials including advanced graphics, maps, and charts to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to a variety of internal and external audiences.

Other

• Assists with data collection for annual reports and economic development projects.

• Provides maps for other departments upon request.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Identifies and participates in implementation of process and customer service improvements.

• Performs increasingly responsible duties as the employee gains experience and independence in performing planning duties.

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed. However, the allocation of positions will be determined by the amount of time spent in performing the essential duties listed above.

Typical Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of functions, principles, methods, and techniques of public planning including community planning, land use planning, and zoning. Knowledge of the principles and tools relevant to land use planning, development, regulations, and permitting.

SKILLS & ABILITY: Perform independent research on planning issues, investigate assigned planning and planning-related problems; maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, other employees and the public; work independently and complete assignments in a timely manner.

• Demonstrated skill in the operation of equipment necessary to perform the functions of the job including computers, spreadsheets, word processing, PowerPoint and ArcMap GIS programs. Experience in graphics design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite and Sketch-up is desired, but not required.

• Interpersonal Skills

• Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others and relates well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.

• Oral Communication

• Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively; taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues and responds appropriately.

• Planning and Evaluating

• Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

• Problem Solving

• Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

• Reading

• Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.

• Writing

• Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

TRAINING: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in planning or related field.

EXPERIENCE:Minimum three (3) years of municipal planning experience and AICP certification or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides evidence that the applicant possesses the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements

Possession of a current and valid Colorado Driver's license or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire.