Zoning Administrator bei City of Tuscaloosa, AL

About the Department

The purpose of this classification is to perform technical tasks to develop, maintain and enforce zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. Supervises assigned staff and provides support services to code enforcement personnel, regulatory agencies, and the public regarding zoning regulations.

This classification is authorized to act on behalf of the Director of Planning in absence of same.

Position Duties

The following duties are normal for this classification.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.   Other duties may be required and assigned.  Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processes employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.

May act on behalf of the Director of Planning in absence of the same, specifically: attending City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Historic Preservation Commission meetings, conducting public hearings, and signing final plats.

Develops, maintains and interprets zoning regulations; prepares and recommends approval of revised and updated zoning and subdivision regulations; oversees the enforcement of zoning and subdivision regulations.

Provides support services to code enforcement personnel, regulatory agencies, and the public regarding zoning and subdivision regulations, mobile home park ordinance; receives and responds to inquiries, questions and concerns; writes correspondence regarding enforcement of zoning, subdivision, mobile home park regulations and ordinances.

Reviews site plans, building permit applications, certificate of occupancy forms, subdivision plats, mobile home park plans, and sign permit applications for compliance with regulations; rechecks subdivision plats after engineering changes are made; reviews drafting work.

Conducts sites visits and takes pictures for Zoning Board of Adjustment and Historic Preservation Commission cases; communicates with and assists the public in submittal requirements for review; reviews digital and non-digital submittals for compliance and accuracy; writes staff reports, legal notices, and recommendations for agendas and cases; attends and assists in meetings with the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Historic Preservation Commission; prepares and presents staff reports on cases.

Counsels, coordinates, and corresponds with other departments, other agencies and the public on matters concerning land use and development; writes zoning verification letters and responds to public records requests when required; answers phone calls, responds to emails, assists walk-in customers, and handles general questions; communicates verbally and in writing with a high degree of professionalism.

Attends and assists in conducting pre-application conference and pre-development meetings for Zoning Board of Adjustment and Historic Preservation Commission cases.

Signs building permit applications, sign permit applications and certificate of occupancy forms for business licenses.

Utilizes tax maps and deeds as needed; updates maps when necessary.

Provides assistance to the Office of the City Attorney and Codes and Development Services Division in prosecuting zoning violation cases; appears in court as an expert witness as required.

Monitors and reviews the work of clerical and technical staff regarding zoning and other related issues.

Refers to department operating procedures, administrative policies and procedures, regulations and standards, reference manuals and other sources in performing assigned job duties.

Recommends policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the department.

Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in day-to-day activities.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, in a timely manner.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Community Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or related field required; Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field preferred; three (3) years of experience dealing with zoning regulations, program management, public policy, or related field,  and the ability to read plans; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.  Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Other Qualifications

The following requirements are normal for this classification.  Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

DATA UTILIZATION: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

HUMAN INTERACTION: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZATION: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions. 

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.

MATHEMATICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.

FUNCTIONAL REASONING: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

SITUATIONAL REASONING: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

PHYSICAL ABILITY: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, texture, and visual cues or signals.  Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.