Conveniently situated in Montgomery County, just 15 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., Rockville, Maryland is hailed as one of the nation’s leading small cities and one of the top 10 most diverse communities in the nation. Rockville offers a mix of urban and suburban lifestyles with a variety of engaged residential communities. Rockville also has two Metro stations that provide convenient access to the DC Metropolitan Area and opportunities for new transit-oriented development.
The Principal Planner leads exciting planning projects to ensure compliance with the City’s variance development requirements. In addition, this professional facilitates high quality cohesive development, transit-oriented development, and works with diverse communities to promote equity and inclusion. Our value-driven department seeks someone who has proven skills in project management, community engagement, research, interpreting and conveying complex zoning requirements, and producing written reports.
Job functions will be focused on long range planning, historic preservation, plan implementation, and/or development review and zoning.
General
Identifies and analyzes problems, develops goals and objectives, and designs programs to meet departmental and citywide objectives.
Represents the City and Department and actively participates in meetings with elected official, boards and commissions, government agencies, property owners, developers, neighborhoods, and community groups to discuss planning as it relates to development projects, including transportation and urban design issues.
Coordinates work with other planners and employees in other departments and divisions, including Public Works, Transportation, Recreation and Parks, Environmental Management, and Economic Development.
Performs other duties as required.
Development Review and Zoning
Assists applicants and the public to locate useful information, to comply with City requirements and to follow procedures.
Interprets complex zoning and development regulations and conveys information to the general public in an understandable format.
Evaluates site plans and other development applications as assigned for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
Manages the review of development review applications of high complexity, resulting in written analysis and recommendation of proposals to Approving Authorities.
Presents recommendations in written form, with graphics and oral presentation to Approving Authorities.
Ideal Candidate has:
Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of urban planning, urban design, zoning, historic preservation and development.
Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of transportation planning.
Knowledge of the literature and sources of information available concerning planning matters, and of the techniques and procedures useful to analyze and report on such subjects.
Knowledge of zoning and land subdivision ordinances and regulations, and the methods and procedures by which they are enforced.
Knowledge of the general principles and practices of civil engineering and architecture as applied to urban planning and development.
Knowledge of computer applications to planning (word processing, spreadsheets and data bases, geographic information systems, transportation modeling).
Skill in participating in or developing recommended plans, studies or reports dealing with and fostering the planned economic growth and orderly physical development of the City.
Skill in analyzing and preparing planning studies, including recommendations, relative to such areas of planning concern as: land use; zoning; urban design; historic preservation; public facilities; community services, open space; transportation; land development control ordinances and procedures; and fiscal, social and environmental impact statements.
Skill in presenting both oral and written reports to the Mayor and Council and Planning Commission and other groups.
Ability to draft, sketch and letter and illustrate in map and graphic forms.
Ability to analyze and evaluate pertinent planning data, to develop unbiased, just and concise recommendations, and to execute plans once approved.
Ability to analyze plans for the development of private and municipal properties.
Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and to prepare technical reports.
Ability to utilize personal computers and related software applications.
Ability to provide information to boards and commissions and other interested parties, and to convey concise and accurate explanations concerning various planning ordinances and procedures.
Ability to make recommendations recognizing established precedents and practices, and to use resourcefulness and tact in meeting new problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and to deal tactfully with developers, engineers and the public in the resolution of difficult and contentious matters.
Qualifications include:
Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) with major coursework in planning, public policy, architecture, civil engineering, geography, or closely related field from an accredited university or college; plus six (6) years of progressively responsible work in planning, or comparable combination of relevant education and experience.
Special Qualifications:
Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) encouraged.
Instruction to Apply