City Planner III

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

3E04
CITY PLANNER III

Specialties
( Analysis ) ( Area Design ) ( Economic Development ) ( Environmental Planning ) ( Project Planning ) ( Urban Design )

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is advanced performance level planning work in the area of specialization. Employees in this class serve as technical experts and project leaders offering advice and direction to lower level planners. Interacting with other agencies, community and business groups and individuals are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the direction of a higher level city planner.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

All Specialties

Acts as a lead planner in the area of specialization; collects and analyzes data; assigns aspects of work to lower level planners; reviews staff members' recommendations; reviews proposed plans for consideration germane to area of specialization; prepares reports detailing findings; reviews work of lower level planners and gives advice and direction; recommends modification to plans or alternative solutions.
Establishes and maintains contact with agencies concerned with area of specialization to exchange information; channels information to appropriate personnel; may attend staff, community, legislative and intra-agency meetings to recommend, develop and interpret planning programs and polices in area of specialization; elicits information from and provides information to department representatives, agencies and/or the general public in the area of specialization.
Performs related work as required.

Analysis

Determines studies and projects required in the preparation of comprehensive district plans, generalized area plans, studies designed to provide information on a system for the scheduling of capital improvements, or the processing and analysis of a large volume of data on land use and other factors; assigns phases of the work to subordinate planning personnel; reviews methodology, findings and recommendations of subordinates; presents task force findings to a planning commission.

Area Design

Represents the Planning Commission to an assigned city district comprised of a number of areas; solicits information from the community to establish priorities, determine problems and develop proposals; responds to community concerns by providing information on the purpose of specific programs and the City's role in solutions to problems; prepares redevelopment proposals; reviews redevelopment proposals submitted by the Redevelopment Authority for conformance to site plans and other factors; prepares site and other plans for redevelopment areas, subdivisions and a variety of special projects; meets with agencies concerned with redevelopment to resolve differences.

Guides the commission and the community toward the development of compatible solutions; provides technical assistance to community groups; attempts to resolve differences prior to presentation to the commission; informs the commission of the community's attitude toward problems and proposals.

Economic Development

Directs economic studies involving such subjects as unemployment, industry development, land utilization, and other economic feasibility studies which relate to the general economy and capital development of the City; performs a variety of prespecified sets of computer runs on the economic data base, including lists, aggregations, cross-tabulation, isolations, and statistical analyses.

Ascertains economic trends and key factors influencing change and determines the effect on socio-economic conditions within the city and specific communities; performs cost analysis to determine the feasibility of the program based on availability of funds; coordinates the drafting of applications for federal grants designed to enhance employment opportunities and assist industry in improving existing facilities or relocating; evaluates the relationship among surrounding land uses, the provision of public facilities and City services, and the skills of the proximate labor force.

Reviews proposed changes in City ordinances and prepares reports on their effect on the local economy; recommends changes in existing legislation to improve the economic climate within the city.

Environmental Planning

Directs and conducts environmental planning studies; coordinates the preparation of environmental studies for urban development projects; revises for consistency, depth of analysis and consideration of technical engineering and other relevant factors those areas of planning studies concerned with the physical environment, such as land, climate, vegetation, wildlife, land use, water supply, sewage and septic systems, solid waste, drainage, air, noise, and water pollution, and energy resources.

Project Planning

Participates in the preparation of the City's capital program and capital budget; reviews departmental capital projects requests; suggests lines of questioning to be used at informal budget hearings; prepares ordinances amending program and budget; reviews the School District's proposed capital program and capital budget and suggests possible modifications.

Prepares potential zoning legislation to include proposed amendments to zoning maps and changes within the zoning code; examines all development plans for their effect on comprehensive and district plans.

Urban Design

Prepares site and building controls and design guidelines for specific developmental parcels, development projects and special districts; reviews building designs, site plans, streetscapes and landscapes for conformance with zoning controls, development controls, and design guidelines; reviews designs for public and private spaces including consideration of such factors as pedestrian usage, landscape standards, lighting, adjoining land uses, transportation linkages and access, signage and public art.

Prepares prospecttuses and requests for proposals for individual development sites; develops standards, controls and guidelines for the design and development of public spaces such as streets, pedestrian spaces, plazas and other such spaces; prepares redevelopment strategies for neighborhoods and specific development districts including preparation of recommendations on land uses, building reuse, historic preservation, standards for rehabilitation and new construction, requirements and standards for open space and civic spaces, parking and access, and landscape and streetscape improvements as part of a team of planners.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

the scope and objectives of city planning.
city planning problems as they apply to the area of specialization.
the techniques and practices of project planning.
the methods and techniques of planning analysis in the Analysis specialty.
the methods and techniques of planning at the neighborhood level and of community and city resources as they relate to the Area Design specialty.
economic principles and economic research methodologies in the Economic Development specialty.
the scope and objectives of environmental planning for the Environmental Planning specialty.
the principles and practices of municipal financing and zoning as they relate to the Project Planning specialty.
the theories of planning methods.
zoning, site planning, architecture, land use and transportation planning, infrastructure planning and development, landscape and streetscape design, real estate economics and development financing, and signage and graphic design for the Urban Design specialty.
the organization and function of municipal and other agencies active in the field of planning.
the principles and practices of engineering as applied to environmental planning for the Environmental Planning Specialty.
the physical, social and economic structure of the city.
the legal concepts of legislation basic to planning.

SKILL IN:

the use of standard drafting equipment in the Area Design specialty.

ABILITY TO:

establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, civic, community and industrial groups and the general public.
analyze complex problems and reach sound conclusions.
formulate solutions to planning problems which are in adherence with accepted planning principles.
use computerized data bases in the Economics Development specialty.
present ideas effectively in oral, written or graphic form.
direct and advise subordinate city planners in the area of specialization.
direct the efforts of community groups toward planning at the neighborhood level for the Area Design specialty.
evaluate technical statements describing the physical impact of urban development projects on the environment for the Environmental Planning specialty.
prepare sketches illustrating urban designs standards, controls and design guidelines.
graphically present urban design concepts using traditional mapping, modeling and cartographic techniques as well as computer presentation drawing and presentation techniques common to the profession.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 9/87.)

Environmental Planning Specialty

EDUCATION

Completion of a bachelor's degree program in engineering or applied science at an accredited college or university including or supplemented by coursework in environmental science or ecology.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two years of technical planning experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
One year of technical planning experience at the full performance level.

Urban Design Specialty

EDUCATION

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with a degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban design.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two years of technical planning experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
One year of experience in architectural design, urban design, streetscape design, site planning, or public open space design.

Other Specialties

EDUCATION

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in city or regional planning, or a field relevant to the area of specialization determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two years of technical planning experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
One year of technical planning experience at the full performance level.

Or any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department which has included the completion of a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum.

NOTE:
Completion of a Master's degree program in a field determined to be appropriate to the area of specialization will be considered equivalent to both the bachelor's degree as stated above and up to two years of the general experience required.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

PAY RANGE: EP21
Class Established: 4/1960

Latest Spec. Revision: 9/1987

CN/vp/deb

END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 3E04

3E04CITY PLANNER III

3E04
CITY PLANNER III