- Position Description
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This posting will be used to fill a full time, permanent, Planner I position within the Anne Arundel County Government Office of Planning and Zoning, Planning Division, Long Range Planning Section. This is entry level professional planning work responsible for assisting with current building and zoning, long range planning and development, new subdivisions, proposed land use, land preservation, economic conditions, transportation, critical areas (wetlands, flood plain, coastal zone management, etc.), and zoning (reclassifications, exceptions, variances, waivers, etc.) laws, regulations and ordinances as they affect growth and development within the County (building, development and infrastructure).
The Long Range Planning (LRP) Section in the Planning Division of the Office of Planning and Zoning is responsible for preparing, updating or amending, and implementing the County's General Development Plan, Town Center and other Master Plans, the Water and Sewer Master Plan and other functional plans as needed or mandated. The LRP Section is also responsible for administering the comprehensive rezoning process; conducting a variety of planning studies and projects; teaming with the Department of Recreation and Parks on updates to the Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan and the Greenways Master Plan; coordinating briefings and public hearings with the Planning Advisory Board; reviewing development plans and zoning applications for consistency with master plans; and providing community outreach and customer service.
This position is responsible for assisting in the LRP Section with a variety of planning functions related to long-range, comprehensive planning and growth management. Responsibilities may include collection of data, research and technical analysis; application and interpretation of Codes; preparation of written reports and other planning documents; oral and graphic presentations; attending public meetings and committee meetings.
NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK
An employee in this class performs a wide variety of planning functions which require application and interpretation of standardized tasks relating to a portion of a study or project such as complex building and zoning Codes both residential and commercial, long range planning and development, new subdivisions, proposed lane use, land preservation, economic conditions, transportation, critical areas (wetlands, flood plain, coastal zone management, etc.), and zoning (reclassifications, exceptions, variances, waivers, etc.) laws, regulations and ordinances as they affect growth and development within the County (building, development and infrastructure). Employees carry out routine planning assignments independently and completed work is reviewed by the supervisor or a higher level planner for technical soundness and conformity to assigned project requirements. Assignments include studies, collection of data, and analysis to be used for written, graphic and oral presentations in both small and large forums of a diversity of individuals who may have divergent views. These studies result in current and future growth and development of County property, land use, and highways. Development within the County includes both residential and commercial aspects.
- Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
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Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)
Assists with gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data relating to local social, economic, population, housing, industrial development, zoning, and land uses; prepares written reports on various planning matters; reviews and analyzes legislative provisions; prepares revised drafts of laws or regulations.
Assists in conducting special studies of land use, land economics; developing and coordinating development plans, e.g., open space, parks and recreation facilities, shopping centers, office complexes, etc.
Assists in the preparation of graphic materials concerned with planning problems and elements of the comprehensive county plan.
Assembles information and provides assistance to governmental agencies and individual citizens on matters relating to property use regulations and other functions of planning.
Assists with research, planning, and technical analysis for complex planning projects; conducting long range planning studies in such areas as water quality, sign control, community facilities, coastal zone management, environmental protection, and land preservation; collects, tabulates, analyzes, and represents County agencies in attempts to assure consistency in regulations and policies among contiguous jurisdictions; analyzes existing laws and legal provisions offered as models or reflective of experience of other jurisdictions; drafts revisions of laws and regulations.
Assists with residential reviews and processes, commercial and industrial subdivision plans for compliance with regulations and policies; reviews, processes, and approves requests for waivers of subdivision regulations; reviews applications for special permits and licenses
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Assists with modification of developers' plans or suggests revised plan elements to assist developers in project design; holds pre-application conferences and provides guidelines.
Assists with review and development of recommended departmental position on zoning reclassifications, exceptions, variances, zoning enforcement, and draft of administrative decisions.
Assists in the formulation of planning or zoning policy and provides information on planning matters and regulations to the public.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, zoning, subdivision, and land use.
Knowledge of principles and techniques of socio-economic research.
Knowledge of research methods used in the collection, evaluation, and presentation of planning data.
Knowledge of the literature of the field and of technical resources relevant to planning and related fields.
Skill in planning, organizing, and conducting planning and related studies.
Skill in preparing and presenting findings and recommendations effectively, both oral and written.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, representatives of other agencies and the public.
- Minimum Qualifications
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with course work in Planning, Geography, Geology, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Policy, Analysis, Geospatial Analysis, Cartography, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Planning, or a closely related field; one (1) or more years of experience in professional planning and zoning work or a related field; and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license.
- Supplemental Qualifications
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Preference will be given to applicants with the following:
1) Two (2) or more years of progressively responsible planning experience where at least one (1) or more years of experience is in comprehensive planning or community planning.
2) One (1) or more years of experience facilitating work groups, citizen committees, public meetings or other similar public engagement efforts.
3) Possession of a graduate degree in planning and/or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification.
4) Proficiency in ArcGIS and/or Adobe InDesign.