SUMMARY

The City Planner is responsible for overseeing the planning activities in the City of Natchez, which includes administration of the city’s long-range plan and subsequent planning and zoning functions.  The City Planner will work with the city administration to set department priorities; oversee the implementation and updating of the city’s comprehensive plan; administer zoning policy; assist with design review; oversee code enforcement; and develop and administer strategies of overlay districts.  The role of the city planner also requires experience, education, and/or demonstrated interest in historic preservation, because the city has a large review district composed of multiple National Register districts with a variety of architectural styles.  The City Planner will also have opportunities to participate in economic development; downtown and neighborhood revitalization; bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; and recreational asset development.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage good customer relations in the administration of planning and zoning matters. Contact with the public is extensive and involves communication of complex information often requiring tact and diplomacy.


• Develop long-term work program for the department and preparation of the annual department budget to be presented to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.


• Manage budgetary items satisfactorily.


• Supervise planning staff.


• Supervise day-to-day zoning, subdivision, and all other land use permit activities. Reviews (or delegates to staff) all departmental reports and presentations.


• Advises property owners, developers, contractors, designers, and others of best practices in dealing with historic preservation.  


• Directs the efforts of periodic comprehensive plan updates, ordinance and resolution preparation, preparation of program and project plans.


• Responsible for short and long-range decisions in comprehensive and current land use planning and code administration.


• Informs the Mayor and Board of upcoming events and impacts affecting City land use practices and policies.


• Serves as the principal technical planning representative for the City Planning Commission, Natchez Preservation Commission, Site Plan Review Committee, and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.


• Evaluates planning-related legislation and applicability to the city and departmental functions.


• Incorporates updates into the Development Code.


• Other duties as assigned.