Associate Planner at City of Oak Harbor, WA

About the Department

This position performs a variety of routine and complex technical work in both current and long-range planning, focusing on a combination of tasks including land use application reviews, permit reviews, and municipal code updates. Recommends conditions and/or alternatives to ensure projects are responsive to the emerging needs of the community and consistent with City policies and codes.  Provides accurate information to the public, employees of the City, and elected officials on state and local code provisions, official land use maps, the comprehensive plan, and other pertinent information.

Position Duties

Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, business needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors.

1. Process land use permits such as site plans, subdivision, short plats, shoreline permits, conditional use permits, variances, rezoning applications, and comprehensive plan amendments; prepare reports and recommendations on these permits and applications. May participate in public hearings before the Hearing Examiner, Planning Commission, and City Council on these permits and applications.
2. Prepare or review SEPA documents; prepare environmental threshold determinations. Provide technical assistance in the analysis, coordination, and implementation of environmental requirements and regulations under the City Environmental Code.
3. Perform frequent customer service work on the phone, in person at the front counter and via e-mail, serving as the initial representative and liaison for the Development Services Department.
4. Interpret applicable land use and development codes for the general public; utilize excellent customer service skills to work with property owners and the development community on acceptable property development and land use.
5. Under direction, the position may be required to conduct special land use, land economics, demographic, social and economic studies and review other relevant factors relating to comprehensive planning issues. Prepare complex planning reports presenting results and conclusions of those studies.
6. Support the Director and staff on various projects and special studies (such as Comprehensive Plan and development code updates) by assisting with research, public involvement, and drafting documents; utilize Geographic Information Systems and general research/analysis skills to accomplish these tasks.
7. Coordinate project activities with other staff, city departments, county and state agencies as necessary.
8. Investigate potential violations of city land use regulations. Prepare documentation reports for use by the Building Official, Director and/or City Attorney.
9. Review applicable building permits and business license applications for compliance with land use requirements.
10. Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with land developers, City personnel and officials, representatives of Federal and State agencies, and the general public, including various boards, councils, commissions and agencies.
    
    

Associated Functions:

• Attend various continuing education meetings and seminars, and conferences.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility
No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Knowledge of:

• Land use planning and environmental issues and related laws and professional practices.

Skill in:

• Microsoft Office products, for example, word processing, spreadsheet, data base and presentation/graphics software.
• Effectively communicating both verbally and in writing; to deal tactfully and courteously with both internal and external customers and the ability to make effective public presentations.

Ability to:

• Gain a working knowledge of the City Comprehensive Plan, the City Municipal Codes; various state regulations, laws, guidelines, and enactments; interlocal agreements and federal regulations related to land use, growth management and ecology.
• Evaluate and interpret comprehensive plan and development codes.
• Conduct, read and interpret complex studies and surveys.
• Exercise independent judgment to make decisions about day-to day issues and activities; interpret and apply policies and procedures to situations.

Minimum Qualifications

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions may be considered.
 

• Bachelor’s degree in urban or regional planning, geography, environmental studies, or a closely related field. 
• Two (2) years professional planning experience.  
• Valid driver’s license and ability to provide a driver’s abstract showing a good driving record.
• Complete a comprehensive criminal background screening prior to hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• GIS experience.

Other Qualifications

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
 
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with field work and site visits that may be performed in all types of weather. Exposure to normal transportation and construction activity such as high noise levels, moving vehicles and machines, dust, and mud, and traversing of exposed and sometimes unsecured walkways and platforms. May wear protective clothing and equipment such as helmet, gloves, goggles, and safety shoes. Work requires the ability to communicate information and ideas, so others understand, ability to observe details at a close range, ability to drive a vehicle to development sites and tours.  Moving on all types of terrain. Crouching, bending, stooping, and reaching; and moving of items up to fifty (50) pounds. 
 
Safety Statement:
We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans. 

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