Long Range Planner at Town of Windsor (CO) – Windsor, Colorado

Join our Planning Division as a Long Range Planner! You'll play a vital role in shaping our town's future by developing and implementing long-range planning initiatives. As a key member of our team, you'll work on projects like subarea plans, corridor plans, and Comprehensive Plan updates. Your expertise in land use planning, economic development, and community engagement will be essential in creating a sustainable and thriving community.

Hiring Range: $82,135 - $90,349 Annual Salary

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week, periodic evening meetings

NATURE OF WORK
As a member of the Planning Division, the Long Range Planner will perform land use planning associated with primarily long-range planning and assist with development review support. Individuals in the Long Range Planner role act as a unique bridge between land use planning, economic development, and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Individuals in the Long Range Planner position are required to perform work in a manner consistent with and exemplary of the town’s PRIDE philosophy and the town’s Equal Employment Opportunity Employment policy.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Individuals perform a wide variety of municipal planning functions and work under the direct, but limited supervision of the Director of Planning to carry out assigned duties, functions, roles, and projects in both routine and complex circumstances.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Individuals may supervise future planners designated for long-range planning functions.

• Assists the Planning Director with the following:
  • Identifies long-range planning issues and policies and develops subsequent work program priorities.
  • Undertaking long-range planning projects as assigned; such as subarea plans, corridor plans, and regular updates to the Comprehensive Plan
  • Coordinating, scheduling, and reviewing work assignments for long-range planning projects when acting as technical and policy advisor to assigned staff or consultants.
  • Maintaining a working understanding of new land use legislation, administrative rules, and case law.
• Attending and participating in professional group meetings, maintaining awareness of new trends and developments in the field of planning; incorporating new developments as appropriate into the department’s programs and priorities. Refines and maintains ordinance/code and policy amendments. Ensures that town policies are supported and recommends policy and procedural changes as necessary to meet policy objectives of state and/or federal laws.
• Regularly represent the Town of Windsor at community meetings and events that may occur on nights and weekends at various locations. Researches issues, prepares reports, correspondence, and memoranda, and answers questions for the Town Board and Planning Commission regarding land use, zoning, and development.
• Drafts and manages RFQs and RFPs for outside consulting, design work, etc. that pertains to code amendments, design standards, and/or special projects within the Town or Planning Area.
• Responds to inquiries from the public and provides information to property owners, developers, and other interested parties pertaining to land use application review, ordinances, or codes.
• Compiles and analyzes data on economic, social, and physical factors affecting land use, and prepares graphic and narrative reports on data. Presents staff reports and recommendations to the Planning Commission, Board of Trustees, and other agencies as needed.
• Work involves contact and coordination with governmental officials, public and private agencies, attorneys, other town departments and advisory committees, and citizens.
• Pursue grant funding and external partnership opportunities that generate additional resources to support long-range planning projects.
• Assists in the preparation of grant applications and management of grant-funded projects.
• Prepares routine charts, maps, graphic displays, and other infographics as well as develops and executes public involvement strategies for specific projects and program areas.
• Reviews land use applications and development plans for compliance with the town plans and state regulations. Participates in land use pre-application conferences and site visits. Develops recommendations regarding development applications.
• Recommends governmental measures affecting land use, public utilities, community facilities, and housing and transportation to control and guide community development and renewal.
• Provides staff support and makes recommendations to the Planning Commission and Town Board regarding specific projects and development plans. Provides technical advice and assistance to them in making decisions.
• Coordinates processing and review of development plans and preparation of planning studies and reports with other town departments, and local and state agencies to ensure consistency in the application of policies, regulations, and procedures. This includes water districts, sewer districts, and other utilities located within the Town Planning Areas.
• Carries out special planning projects that may include drafting neighborhood plans, redevelopment planning, leading strategic planning initiatives, researching regulatory and other techniques for implementing the comprehensive plan, and developing plan and zoning text amendments.
• Participates in continued education and staying current with professional standards through attending conferences, and workshops that relate to the town’s position and/or policy as appropriate.
• Conducts environmental reviews of projects per SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) and local environmental review regulations.

OTHER DUTIES
Depending on organizational need, additional duties may include the following:

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Planning Director.
• Process current land use cases as necessary to assist current planning staff.
• Conduct public and community stakeholder outreach.
• Manages and assists with special projects as assigned
• Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.
• Occasionally, may process land use applications related to zoning. Reviews development applications to ensure plan consistency, including negotiation with applicants and mediation of conflicts.
• Performs related work as required and assigned
• Assists other town departments/divisions, as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong communication and customer service skills are required.
• Ability to clearly present findings and recommendations through written and verbal communications.
• Knowledge of urban planning principles and practices; familiarity with applicable federal, state, and local land use regulations; ability to conduct research for planning assignments.
• Knowledge and experience with the development review process, how to apply zoning and development codes, and long-range planning principles.
• Ability to effectively coordinate, evaluate, and manage multiple planning projects.
• Knowledge and ability to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ESRI ArcMap software.
• High level of professionalism and requires working with advisory boards, Town Board, multiple agencies, the private sector, and the public.
• Ability to effectively work as a team member with the department, town staff and consultants, public agencies, and districts.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to work effectively with the private sector, general public, advisory boards, and Town Board.
• Ability to perform duties with limited supervision, resolve or propose resolutions to complex development issues, work on multiple projects, ability to work effectively during challenging situations and frequent interruptions, and within deadlines that may be inflexible.

MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT USED
Materials and equipment used include, but may not be limited to the following:

1. Equipment: Position requires use of a variety of equipment: computers, tablets or other digital equipment, digital cameras, copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, telephones.
2. Materials: Position requires use of a variety of materials: N/A

Note: This position description is not intended to be an exclusive list of all of the requirements, duties, tasks, roles or responsibilities associated with the position. Nothing in this position description restricts the Town’s ability to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities of this job at any time.

The Town of Windsor will make all reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity in employment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For more information, please contact Human Resources.

The town is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. The town prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective hairstyles), gender (regardless of gender identity or gender expression), sexual orientation, color, religion, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.