Planner I - III

DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW:  Department of Planning & Codes
 
The Department of Planning and Codes has three main functional areas: Comprehensive land use planning, code enforcement, licensing, and development review.  The Department also handles a wide range of related tasks including support of the County’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Construction Trades Board, and Liquor Board.
 
The Department develops and updates the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the primary long-range land use planning tool.  The Department ensures local development meets County and State regulations including Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Critical Area Ordinance, Floodplain Management, Stormwater Management, and Forest Conservation.  Staff review proposed site plans for conformance and provide technical assistance to the Planning Commission and BZA in reviewing and approving plans, variances, and special use exceptions.
 
The Department issues a range of permits and licenses and conducts site inspections.  Code enforcement personnel ensure compliance with the Building Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Minimum Livability Code, Salvage Yard Licensing and Alcoholic Beverage Licensing.  The Department is also responsible for the administration and management of the Agricultural Land Preservation Program, Rural Legacy Program, County-wide Addressing Program, Census Data Distribution and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
 
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
 
The following examples are meant to be illustrative rather than comprehensive:
 
Planner I
 

• Performs day to day planning and codes enforcement, including technical reviews of development applications for a variety of different projects including subdivisions, site plans, conditional uses and variances.
• Provides administrative support to various boards and commissioners (e.g. Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, etc.).
• Interprets the principles and practices of land use planning; utilizes applicable provisions of the Maryland Annotated Code, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) as well as federal laws and local ordinances.
• Studies existing plans, appropriate textbooks, and other relevant information and participates in relevant planning training seminars and local regional and State planning and planning associations’ meetings.
• Assists in the coordination, development and implementation of plans including comprehensive plans, master water and sewer plans, solid waste management plans, watershed plans, community development plans, and others to address growth management and development issues, environmental priorities, and zoning and infrastructure needs.
• Studies Federal and State Laws and regulations pertinent to the assigned area of work.
• Thorough knowledge of pertinent County regulations and policies.
• Analyzes, prepares documents, reports and/or maps utilizing current or historical data from a variety sources (i.e.: State and local plans, US Census, building permits information, preserved/developed lands). Ability to prepare and interpret statistical data.
• Explains and determines planning concepts, zoning regulations, and development review and application processes to the general public, developers and their agents/representatives, and property owners.
• Maintain and compile statistical information on permit activity.

• Assist in the development, coordination and implementation of plans including comprehensive plans, master water and sewer plans, solid waste management plans, watershed plans, community development plans, and others to address growth management and development issues, and zoning and infrastructure needs.
• Coordinates implementation and enforcement of County’s Critical Area and Forest Conservation programs.
• Interprets the principles and practices of land use planning; utilizes applicable provisions of the Maryland Annotated Code, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) as well as federal laws and local ordinances.
• May be responsible for the preparation of effective presentations for public meetings and hearings.
• May consult with County attorneys regarding land use legal issues after consultation with Assistant Director or Director and applies information obtained.
• Within County government, productively interacts with the departmental staff, County attorneys, Health department and various other County departments. Outside of County government, productively interacts with the general public, attorneys, developers, engineers and surveyors.  State and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, individual property owners, and the media in connection with Departmental activities.
• Prepares or conducts land use and other planning studies or analyses and prepares technical reports.
• Assists with public/citizen outreach for plans and planning-related projects.

• Prepares or conducts land use and other planning studies or analyses and prepares technical reports.
• Manages assigned land use planning projects as assigned.
• Drafts Comprehensive Plan language or other technical writing for review by staff and the Planning Commission.? Develops and presents appropriate, logical and comprehensive report formats.
• Supports the activities and meetings of the Planning Commission?.
• Applies the principles and practices of land use planning; utilizes applicable provisions of the Maryland Annotated Code, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) as well as federal laws and local ordinances.
• Coordinates interagency and interdepartmental review of projects and plans.?
• Responsible for the preparation of effective presentations for public meetings and hearings of the County Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and other public meetings. 
• Studies existing plans, appropriate books, and other relevant information and participates in training seminars and required meetings.
• Consults with County attorneys regarding land use legal issues and applies information obtained.
• Within County government, productively interacts with the departmental staff, County attorneys, Health department and various other County departments.  Outside of County government, productively interacts with the general public, attorneys, developers, engineers and surveyors, State Critical Area Commission, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), individual property owners, and the media in connection with Departmental activities.

• Knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to planning and the concepts of land use, growth management, water and wastewater management and environmental/watershed resource management.
• Familiarity with the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Comprehensive Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, critical areas statute and ordinance, Forest Conservation Act, Economic Growth Resource Protection and Planning Act of 1992, Master Sewer and Water Plan, Sewer Allocation Policy, applicable state statutes, regulations and procedures, applicable statutes, and required County ordinances and codes.
• Understanding of local government planning programs and practices.
• Understanding of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) with some experience preparing and interpreting maps and GIS data.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to establish priorities and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision.
• Writing and communications skills with emphasis on ability to create, disseminate and present technical plans, reports and data analyses.
• Must be able to operate an automobile.