City Of Philadelphia Office Of Human Resources

3E04

CITY PLANNER 3

General Definition

• This is advanced performance level planning work in the assignment area. 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 ASSIGNMENTS

• Acts as a lead planner in the assignment area; collects and analyzes data; assigns aspects of work to lower level planners; reviews staff members' recommendations; reviews proposed plans for consideration germane to assignment area; 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 assignment area 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 assignment; elicits information from and provides information to department representatives, agencies and/or the general public in the assignment area.
• Performs related work as required.

• STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY ASSIGNMENT

  • 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.
  • Directs economic studies involving such subjects as unemployment, industry development, land utilization, transportation and other economic feasibility studies which relate to the general economy and capital development of the City; performs a variety of pre-specified sets of computer runs on databases, including lists, aggregations, cross-tabulation, isolations, and statistical analyses.
  • Ascertains trends and key factors influencing change and determines the effect on conditions within the city and specific communities and region; performs cost analysis to determine the feasibility of the program based on availability of funds; coordinates the drafting of applications for federal grants; 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.

  COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSIGNMENT

  • Performs a wide range of planning services for an assigned city district comprised of a number of areas; prepares district plans, neighborhood plans, and corridor plans; collects data and survey areas for mapping of data; analyzes information by preparing alternatives or by examining susceptibility to change, market studies, issues, trends, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats or recent investment; performs Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis; directs the work of student interns; collaborates with other staff to utilize their expertise in the plan; considers community input in the planning project; formulates recommendations, strategies and implementation actions; presents findings and recommendations at staff meetings, board meetings and community meetings.
  • Prepares redevelopment plans and blight reports; reviews redevelopment proposals submitted by the Redevelopment Authority; meets with agencies concerned with development to coordinate efforts; prepares development controls in collaboration with staff of other agencies; reviews development plans, site plans, and pro formas; evaluates experience and financial capability of developers.
  • Provides technical assistance to community groups; 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; guides the Commission and the community toward the development of compatible solutions to problems; attempts to resolve differences and effectuate compromise promise prior to presentation to the commission; informs the commission of the community’s opinion on issues and proposals.
  • Seeks grant funding opportunities that can supplement agency resources and add capacity; prepares grant applications.
  • Performs project management duties as assigned by the Division Director; manages the process for consultant studies; ranks and compares consultants in collaboration with other staff; works with administrative staff on contract review and approval; oversees and edits the work of consultants; assists with community outreach during the consultant study.

  DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND ZONING ASSIGNMENT

  • Initiates and conducts specialized zoning studies; reviews and makes recommendations on proposed councilmanic ordinances for conformance to zoning practices; conducts zoning remapping projects; reviews and analyzes zoning data obtained in field inspections. Reviews plans as submitted for code compliance and negotiates with applicants when necessary to obtain optimal development in the City.
  • 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 ASSIGNMENT

  • Leads the preparation and testing of 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 prospectuses 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.

  ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ASSIGNMENT

  • 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.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Knowledge Of:

• the scope and objectives of city planning
• the physical, social and economic structure of the city
• city planning problems
• the techniques and processes of planning research
• the techniques and practices of project planning
• the methods and techniques of planning analysis
• the theories, principles and trends in city planning
• the principles and practices of planning design
• the methods and techniques of planning at the neighborhood level and of community and city resources
• economic principles and economic research methodologies
• the scope and objectives of environmental planning
• the principles and practices of municipal financing and zoning
• the theories of planning methods
• the application and interpretation of standard statistical measures
• 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
• 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
• the legal concepts of legislation basic to planning

Skill In:

• Microsoft Office Suite
• GIS Mapping software
• Adobe Creative Suite

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 databases
• present ideas effectively in oral, written or graphic form
• direct and advise subordinate city planners
• direct the efforts of community groups toward planning at the neighborhood level
• evaluate technical statements describing the physical impact of urban development projects on the environment
• 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 10/11.)

Education

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university in a field related to city planning*. AND

General Experience

• Two years of technical city planning experience in the area of assignment. AND

Specific Experience

• One year of technical city planning experience at the full performance level in the area of assignment.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included the completion of a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum.

Physical And Medical Requirements

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

PAY RANGE:

• Class Established:

  • 4/60

• Spec. Revision:

  • CSC: 10/11, Ad Board: 10/11

PF/jl

End Of Job Class Specification - 3E04