Hybrid Planner II - Long Range Planning presso Anne Arundel County, MD

About the Department

This posting will be used to fill full time, permanent, Planner II positions within the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning, Planning Division. These positions are within the Long Range Planning Section and will report to the section’s Planning Administrator.

This position is responsible for contributing to a variety of projects and programs within the Long Range Planning Section’s work program, including the General Development Plan, Region Plans, the Water and Sewer Master Plan, and other plans and projects as needed. Duties include research, data and GIS analysis, planning and land use studies, preparing reports, presentations and planning documents, project management and conducting public outreach.

In general, this position is moderately complex professional planning work responsible for assisting with current building and zoning, long-range planning and development, new subdivisions, proposed land use, land preservation, economic conditions, transportation, critical areas (wetlands, flood plain, coastal zone management, etc.), and zoning laws, regulations, and ordinances.

NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK

The Long Range Planning Section is responsible for preparing, updating or amending, and implementing master plans, planning documents and reports. These include the General Development Plan, Town Center Plans, Region Plans, Water and Sewer Master Plan, and other functional plans as needed or mandated. The Long Range Planning Section is also responsible for administering the comprehensive rezoning process; conducting data and GIS analysis on a variety of planning topics; preparing staff comments on development applications; reviewing amendments and preparing legislation for Water and Sewer Plan amendments; developing urban design concepts and plans; preparing and managing grant applications; coordinating briefings and public hearings with the Planning Advisory Board; working with advisory committees; and providing public outreach and customer service. 

These positions will assist in the updates to and implementation of master plans including, but not limited to the General Development Plan and the 9 Region Plans; assisting other County agencies with projects, work on planning projects initiated by State and other local government jurisdictions and perform a variety of planning functions related to long-range, comprehensive and community planning. 

In general, an employee in this class is fully proficient in performing a wide variety of planning functions that require application and interpretation of complex building and zoning Codes both residential and commercial. Employees must exercise considerable judgment in carrying out assignments that are broad and varied in scope and nature.

Many planning activities involve projects of a long-term nature such as new subdivisions, commercial sites, shopping centers, small area development plans, and transportation issues which are 5 to 10 years or more from conception to implementation.

Assignments include studies, collection of data, and analysis to be used for written, graphic, and oral presentations in both small and large forums of a diversity of individuals who may have divergent views. These studies result in current and future growth and development of County property, land use, and highways. Development within the County includes both residential and commercial aspects.

Planner II represents the journey level which progresses to moderately complex assignments and being performed with greater independence, less supervision and direction, and requiring guidance from Lead or Senior Planners as necessary.

Position Duties

(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

Performs research, planning, and technical analysis for complex planning projects; conducts long-range planning studies in such areas as water quality, sign control, community facilities, coastal zone management, environmental protection, and land preservation; collects, tabulates, analyzes, and represents County agencies in attempts to assure consistency in regulations and policies among contiguous jurisdictions; analyzes existing laws and legal provisions offered as models or reflective of the experience of other jurisdictions; drafts revisions of laws and regulations. 

Assists in the formulation of planning or zoning policy; represents superiors at various meetings; provides information on planning matters and regulations to the public.

Gathers, analyzes, and interprets data relating to local social, economic, population, housing, industrial development, zoning, and land uses.

Prepares written reports on various planning matters. 

Reviews and analyzes legislative provisions; prepares revised drafts of laws or regulations.

Conducts or assists in conducting special studies; develops and coordinates development plans, e.g., open space, parks and recreation facilities, shopping centers, office complexes, etc.

Assists in the preparation of graphic materials concerned with planning problems and elements of the comprehensive County plan.

Assembles information and assists governmental agencies and individual citizens on matters relating to property use regulations and other functions of planning.

Conducts or assists in the conduct of special land use studies.  

Reviews residential, commercial, and industrial subdivision plans for consistency with master plans.

Reviews and develops recommended departmental positions on zoning reclassifications, exceptions, variances, and zoning enforcement and drafts administrative decisions. 

In addition to the general examples of duties and knowledge, skills and abilities for a Planner II position, the following are specific for these Planner II positions:

Makes presentations to appointed and elected officials, other professional staff and citizen groups.

Conducts public outreach, facilitates public meetings and attends committee and community meetings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

In general, for a Planner II position, the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities include:

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, zoning, subdivision, and land use.

Considerable knowledge of principles and techniques of socio-economic research.

Considerable knowledge of research methods used in the collection, evaluation, and presentation of planning data.

Considerable knowledge of the literature of the field and of technical resources relevant to planning and related fields.

Considerable skill in planning, organizing, and conducting planning and related studies.

Considerable skill in preparing and presenting findings and recommendations effectively, both oral and written.

Ability to communicate ideas, results, and information clearly, concisely, and willingly.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, representatives of other agencies, and the public.

Ability to operate basic office and maintenance equipment and software. 

Ability to respond attentively to internal and external customer problems and requests.

In addition to the general knowledge, skills and abilities of a Planner II, the following are specific to these Planner II positions:

Considerable knowledge of federal, State and County policies, laws, rules and regulations related to land use, environmental protection, growth management and comprehensive zoning.

Considerable knowledge of the County’s geography, master plans and planning processes.

Considerable skill in organizing and developing public outreach initiatives including a public engagement plan and outreach materials.

Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Considerable skills in ArcGIS or ArcPro GIS, Google Suite and Adobe products

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with course work in planning or a closely related field; two (2) or more years of experience in professional planning and zoning work or a related field; and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license.

Other Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants with the following:

1. A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible planning experience

2. A minimum of one (1) or more years of experience in comprehensive planning or community planning.

3. Considerable professional experience in research and / or data analysis as related to land use planning.

4. Proficiency in ArcPro GIS and Adobe InDesign.

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