Associate Planner

• Course work in progress toward a degree from a four-year college or university related to urban planning or a closely related field;
• Degree from a four-year college or university related to urban planning or a closely related field preferred; and
• Prior experience including internships or employment in municipal community development and/or urban planning preferred.

• Knowledge of urban and suburban development and planning principles, practices, and techniques;
• Knowledge of subdivision and professional planning and zoning procedures;
• Knowledge of landscape architecture or urban design principles and practices as they apply to properly assessing planning projects;
• Working knowledge of the methods and techniques of statistics and technical writing standards as applied to planning studies;
• Working knowledge of GIS applications;
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, City officials, and the general public;
• Ability to plan, schedule, coordinate, monitor, and implement multiple planning programs and projects simultaneously;
• Ability to represent the City in a professional manner at all times;
• Skill in operating the listed tools and equipment.
• This exempt position must have the ability to work the hours City Hall is open and may be required to attend City Council and/or Board meetings in the evenings from time-to-time. On occasion, this position may need to travel and attend evening meetings as required.

• A valid State of Illinois Class “D” Driver’s License is required.
• Certified Planner designation (AICP) through the American Institute of Certified Planners is desirable.

Position performs a variety of complex tasks in coordinating and facilitating the progression of development projects through the City’s development review process, supports the administration and enforcement of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, and coordinates the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Supervision Received/Exercised

Works under the guidance and direction of the Assistant Director – Planning, Zoning, & Licensing Division.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Reviews development plans and proposals as assigned to ensure compliance with the various provisions of the City’s regulations, consistency with existing zoning, and conditions of previous zoning approvals.
• Reviews building permit applications to ensure zoning compliance.
• Prepares staff reports and makes presentations for public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Board.
• Conducts routine studies pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan, zoning changes, CDBG, and other current planning matters where the information to be gathered is factual and objective in character.
• Conducts pre-application meetings with homeowners, architects, and commercial developers.
• Explains zoning projects and answers questions to the general public.
• Resolves and/or coordinates with other departments to resolve information/records requests, zoning verification letters, zoning violations, neighbor disputes, and service requests.
• Assists with drafting text amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Code that align with the development patterns and characteristics of specific areas of the City and reflect the conditions of approval for the zoning project.
• Participates in the creation of plans for land use, including layout of streets, parks, location of businesses, industrial and residential areas, and transportation facilities.
• Provides administration for the City’s CDBG from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) through program management, recipient monitoring, entry of documentation in HUD software application, maintenance of case records, annual grant reporting, payment authorization, and collaborative preparation of plans and reports required for the program.
• Attends conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the profession; represents the department in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.