Associate City Planner

Position: Associate City Planner - Zoning Administration - Community Planning and Development

Are you a passionate and creative ‘zoning geek’ that enjoys reading and interpreting zoning codes, drafting zoning code, and helping customers understand how zoning really works on the ground? Are you seeking to build community and shape the future of development in one of the country’s most fascinating and fastest-growing cities?  Community Planning and Development (CPD) is seeking a highly motivated and creative Associate City Planner with planning and zoning experience to join the Zoning Administration Team within the Development Services Division within CPD. This unique planning position is the ‘right hand’ of the Zoning Administrator and exposes you to a wide variety of complex projects as well as the opportunity to collaborate with many different internal and external stakeholders.  We offer excellent work/life balance, unmatched benefits, and a pension plan for life! If this sounds like a fit, we invite you to apply today!

Working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) is so much more than a job. It’s a chance to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of people around you. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for the city that you love!

The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD works with Denver’s communities to prepare plans, as well as regulations for land use and design, that guide the city’s growth, enhancement, and preservation. Our staff also reviews, permits, and inspects development applications to ensure that future construction meets the community-led regulations laid out in Denver's zoning codes as well as meets the rigorous standards of the city's building, fire, and energy codes. We're working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Visit www.DenverGov.org/CPD.

The Development Services Division administers Denver's building, fire, and zoning codes through review, permitting, and inspection of all new development projects in Denver. The candidate selected for the Associate City Planner position will be part of the Zoning Administration Team and will focus primarily on supporting CPD staff in their daily administration of Denver's zoning code (e.g., code fixes, technical support, code interpretations, process improvements), pre-development review (e.g., zoning research for specific properties, lot line and use determinations), and permitting (e.g., staff variances; lot splits, combinations, and reassemblies). The Associate City Planner will also participate in a wide variety of short-term and long-term team projects and tasks to implement and support daily zoning permitting and administration activities within Development Services. The Associate City Planner for the Zoning Administration Team will be expected to develop an in-depth understanding of the Denver Zoning Code and will serve as the subject matter expert for internal and external partners, while providing exceptional customer service.

Schedule: Hybrid, at least 3 days in office per week. 9/80 flex schedule optional after successful completion of probation.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing, researching, and analyzing proposed zone lot amendments (property splits, combinations and reassemblies often requiring a coordinated multi-agency review) for compliance with the zoning code
• Advising citizens on alternatives if a project proposal is not in compliance with zoning rules.  This may include guiding customers through alternative zoning relief procedures (minor staff adjustments or variances to relieve hardships arising from fully complying with the Code) or advising on the appeal process should the applicant disagree with a decision
• Drafting administrative adjustment letters for those zoning relief requests that qualify.
• Researching, analyzing, and writing zoning code interpretations and determinations as they relate to specific properties (zone lot verifications; primary street setback determinations; zone lot line designations)
• Responding to phone and email inquiries from customers regarding specific applications of the zoning code, zoning compliance and alternatives to compliance
• Participating in efforts to improve current zoning administrative and enforcement systems and operations, including process improvements and/or the creation of or revisions to internal standard operating procedures and customer guides and tip sheets.
• Assisting in drafting zoning code text amendments
• Creating training materials on the Denver Zoning Code for staff and conducting trainings
• Conducting research, gathering data, and completing analysis for special projects
• Other duties as assigned

About You

We value diverse perspectives and encourage candidates to apply even if you don't have all the desired skills. If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, we encourage you to apply and to consider joining our team! 

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Three or more years of experience working with zoning codes and other regulatory tools
• Prior zoning code writing and administration experience
• Knowledge of or experience with zoning review procedures
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Strong research and analytical skills, especially in relation to zoning and other land use regulatory tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including creating documents explaining zoning regulations and plan compliance aimed at various audiences, such as developers, architects, engineers, contractors, property owners, and others
• Ability to manage time and workload effectively, which includes planning, organizing, and prioritizing.
• Ability to work as part of a team to support both internal and external customers
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, and permit processing software such as Accela
• Excellent technical writing skills

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education requirement:  Bachelor's Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Engineering, or a related field
• Experience Requirement:  Three (3) years of entry-level professional planning experience which includes participating and assisting in developing planning projects, goals, and guidelines and conducting planning studies and research in a variety of social, economic, and physical areas
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements