Job: Planner II- Housing

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Salaried

Wage: $65,000-$75,000/yr.

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description:

The Planner II – Housing position provides professional city planning work of moderate difficulty. The initial two (2) years of this work is expected to be exclusively dedicated to advancing affordable housing in the community, and is partially funded through a State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Local Planning Capacity (LPC) Grant. The employee will be the primary department staff member assigned to expedited review of subdivision and zoning applications that include affordable housing, as well as code amendments that create incentives for affordable housing. The position is expected to possess in-depth knowledge of the planning field related to affordable housing. After two (2) years, and depending upon further grant funding, the employee may be additionally responsible for assisting with a wide range of city planning functions. Although a DOLA LPC Grant currently partially funds this position for the initial two (2) years, this is not a temporary position. The Planner II – Housing position is a full-time position and requires a minimum of 40 hours a week, including occasional attendance at evening public meetings. This position is authorized to work remotely one (1) day per week after a six-month probationary position, after approval and coordination with the Director.

Compensation:

The starting salary range is $65,000 - $75,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

Paid time off (based on years of service)

Paid sick leave Emergency leave, leave of absence, and personal leave

15 paid holidays

Employee & dependent health/dental/vision insurance (available after 30 days of continuous employment)

Life insurance ($25,000 after 30 days of continuous employment)

457 Deferred Compensation Plan w/ up to 6% employer match, available after six (6) months of continuous employment

Paid professional development and training

Paid professional organization membership

Paid professional certification maintenance

Annual merit-based salary increases

Annual cost of living increases

Flexible work schedule

Hybrid work allowed per City policy

Eligibility for employee housing

Essential Duties: The following duties are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by this position. The duties below are intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities.

• Generally advance housing goals in the City of Leadville, with a focus on incentives for the development of affordable housing

• Facilitate implementation of expedited review and oversee affordable housing development activities

• Process Conditional Use Permit, Administrative Permits, Site Plan, Subdivision, Development Agreement, Annexation, Variance, and Building Permit applications that include deed-restricted affordable housing to achieve Proposition 123 affordable housing unit count commitments

• Implement objectives, strategies and actions related to affordable housing from the 2025 City of Leadville Strategic Plan and the 2026 Joint Leadville-Lake County Comprehensive Plan

• Facilitate subdivision and zoning code amendments to incentivize affordable housing and housing type diversity

• Serve as a liaison with developers during development review and construction • Pursue and manage funding for affordable housing projects

• Track and report Proposition 123-related efforts • Conduct community engagement appropriate for code amendments related to affordable housing and ensure participation by all key stakeholders, especially underrepresented voices, and residents or local workers who are considered housing cost-burdened

• Complete monthly performance metric reporting in a form provided by DOLA

• Acknowledge DOLA in any and all materials or events designed to promote or educate the public about the employee’s housing-related work, including but not limited to: press releases, newspaper articles, op-ed pieces, press conferences, presentations and brochures/pamphlets

• Maintain a complete digital file of all records, documents, communications, notes and other written materials or electronic media, files or communications, which pertain in any manner to the operation of activities undertaken

• Review a wide variety of development and subdivision plans, including but not limited to conceptual, sketch, preliminary, final, site, grading, landscaping, floor, roof, architectural elevations, construction management, three-dimensional modeling, renderings, civil engineering, surveys, plats, easements

• Write staff reports and memos to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council evaluating proposed land use applications for compliance with city code

• Regularly attend Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council regular meetings and special meetings, including evening meetings

• Give presentations to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council

• Prepare, plan and present staff recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for action concerning development proposals

• Collaborate with and support the Leadville Lake County Regional Housing Authority (LLCRHA) Board and staff, including but not limited to: o attending LLCRHA meetings, including evening meetings o coordinating formal LLCRHA approval of deed restrictions o serving on the LLCRHA Development Subcommittee

• Serve as a project manager performing analysis and development review of complex development applications for compliance with City code within required deadlines

• Provide follow-up support to the Lake County Building Department after subdivision or zoning permit approval; compare building plans with zoning and subdivision plans and inspect development for compliance with permit conditions

• Provide departmental signoff review for building permits and certificates of occupancy or certificates of completion, including:

o Conduct site inspections

o Calculate required fees

o Review surveys and improvement location certificates

o Prepare, file and record deed-restrictions, agreements, and restrictive covenants

o Administer construction guarantees including cash deposit agreements

• Provide regular inspections of construction sites, ensuring permit compliance

• Assist or be responsible for performing long range planning tasks including annexations, development agreements, developing policy and code amendment recommendations, ordinances and elements of comprehensive plans, conducting related research and preparing discussion documents on various planning issues

• Utilize the Department’s e-permitting software to process subdivision and zoning permit applications

• Perform research, collect and analyze various statistical and/or technical data related to planning projects.

• Interpret and apply local, state and federal laws and regulations as they relate to assigned responsibilities and stay up-to-date on various legislative changes.

• Assist in or conduct the review and monitoring of programs, projects and applications to ensure compliance with various codes, plans, agreements, agency policies and procedures, and rules and regulations

• Identify community problems, issues, and opportunities in particular neighborhoods that could be mitigated through better community planning

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees, referral agencies and the general public.

• Coordinate with other city departments and referral agencies

• Serves as a positive, productive and supportive team member with other department staff, city officials, other departments, the public and other stakeholders on projects as assigned

• Maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance during regularly scheduled work hours at assigned worksite.

• Perform the physical requirements of the position and work within the established working conditions of the position

• Work a flexible schedule, which may include evening meetings

• Obtain continued professional education and certification maintenance, including through annual professional conference attendance, in order to remain updated on current best practices and trends within the planning profession

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Additional Duties:

• Respond to e-mails, phone calls, and in-person inquiries from the general public regarding various zoning, subdivision, land use, and development matters

• Assist in providing coverage at the department’s front counter, working closely with applicants and the general public answering questions related to city codes and ordinances and guiding them through the development review process

• Communicate and interpret the city’s subdivision and zoning code requirements to the general public, including development regulations related to affordable housing

• Provides accurate planning related information to property owners, architects, developers, realtors, appraisers, and the general public

• Provide assistance and information to city and county departments, contractors and the general public regarding a wide range of planning functions, and other related areas

• Participate in activities related to process improvement.

Supervision Exercised: No supervisory responsibilities.

Independence of Action: This position requires a high degree of independent work, with weekly check in meetings with the Director and intermittent direct supervision by the Director, including review of staff reports, commission and city council memos, and other publicly facing documents prepared by the employee.

Communication/Working Relationships: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of the city, outside agencies, and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner. Maintain strong working relationships with City Councilmembers, Planning and Zoning Commissioners, city staff, Lake County representatives and outside agencies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of city planning

• Affordable housing best practices

• Principles, methodology, practices, and techniques of research and data collection

• Statistical, algebraic, or geometric knowledge and ability to apply such knowledge in practical situations

• Applicable computer programs, software, and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications, and database management

• GIS programs and applications

• Principles of planning and teamwork and the ability to apply these principles in an effective and professional manner

• Policies, practices, activities, methods, and procedures of the department

• Federal, state, and local land use law

• Administrative procedures related to planning and development

• Architectural design and graphic standards

Skill in:

• Site planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design principles and practices

• Creating, developing, preparing, evaluating, reviewing and approving an assortment of proposals for development

• Graphic and statistical presentations

• Use and operation of a personal computer, applicable software, and geographical information systems (GIS)

• Customer service, including handling sensitive and difficult issues with tact and patience

• Attention to detail and accuracy

Time management, organization, and problem-solving

• Oral communication and interpersonal skills to present research findings to the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, other boards and committees, and explain rules and procedures clearly to the public

• Creative problem-solving to gather relevant information to solve practical problems and address citizen inquiries and concerns

• Working on several projects or issues simultaneously

• Effective written and verbal communication

Ability to:

• Work independently or in a team environment as needed

• Attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind

• Facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities

• Negotiate effectively with applicants, property owners, developers and builders for development agreements, annexation agreements, and public benefits such as deed-restricted housing in order to comply with municipal code

• Speak publicly and before an audience with poise, voice control and confidence

• Effectively develop policies, code changes and programs related to affordable housing, subdivision, zoning, site planning, development, architecture, and urban design

• Effectively communicate city regulations

• Determine and interpret work processes for staff, maintaining harmonious relations among staff and promoting efficiency

• Provide direction and give clear and precise verbal and/or written responses to inquiries or requests for information

• Perform multiple tasks at the same time

• Work accurately with frequent interruptions

• Provide attention to detail

• Receive/process confidential information

• Use judgment to correctly apply city policy, governing codes, law or other standards to specific situations

• Use independent judgment in routine and non-routine circumstances, and in critical situations

• Assemble and analyze information and make written reports and documents, as well as oral presentations in a clear, concise and effective manner

• Perform duties and assume responsibilities under varying degrees of stress related to presentations, applicant relations, and deadlines

• Produce quality work that requires consistent attention to detail

• Adapt to organization and technological change, identify problems and implement innovative change

• Work safely and execute judgment with respect to risk management and safety

• Maintain a record of documents and data

• Interpret and apply principles, guidelines, and concepts

• Work with interested citizen groups and other members of the general public

• Conduct research and analysis

• Review plans and apply provisions of ordinances and codes to determine compliance with such regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions

• Write concise reports and keep accurate records

• Assist with making public presentations

• Deliver excellent customer service in a timely manner

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, colleagues, city leadership, other city departments, county departments and officials, governmental agencies, consultants, applicants and the general public

• Effectively and professionally persuade, inform, educate, train, solicit information, motivate and direct a wide variety of individuals or groups, including those with varying educational and cultural backgrounds

• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to audiences of various social, cultural, ethnic, educational and economic backgrounds

• Understand and follow written and verbal instructions

• Work effectively and productively with others

• Effectively coordinate, perform and complete multiple duties and assignments concurrently and in a timely manner

• Meet the travel requirements of the position

• Physically perform the essential job functions of the classification

Qualifications:

Education: Master’s Degree in city planning, urban planning, or regional planning

Experience: Three (3) years of progressively responsible local government experience in land use planning, city planning, urban planning, or regional planning

Language Skills: Ability to read, write and speak English fluently.

Licenses:

• A valid Colorado Driver’s License is required within 30 days of hire

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record Preferred Qualifications and Experience: American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification, experience with drafting and plan review, professional experience related to affordable housing, public sector experience, experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and bi-lingual Spanish speaking skills Physical

Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Work is typically performed indoors in an office environment, generally sitting or standing at a desk, completing tasks such as phone calls, emails, reading, reviewing, creating both hardcopy and digital reports, plans, other documents, typing, filing, writing reports, and other correspondence. Physical activities include sitting, walking, bending, kneeling, standing, stooping, reading, writing, typing, hearing, speaking, lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally, and visually observing situations. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close, distance, and the ability to adjust focus. Some work outdoors for meetings, site visits, and inspections will be required. Physical activities related to out of office work include walking on varying terrain and in varying weather conditions, making visual observations, taking photographs, videos, measurements, listening, verbally communicating, moderate lifting up to 20 pounds, and driving motor vehicles. This role involves a high degree of public contact and may include potentially stressful interactions with applicants, residents, or customers.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Nothing in this position description restricts the City of Leadville’s ability to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities of this job at any time. The City of Leadville is an “at will” employer, and city employees may be separated from city employment at any time and at the discretion of management.

The City of Leadville is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The city does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.  

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.