Environmental Planner jobs in Gastonia, NC

Performs professional and administrative work in the Planning Department at a professional level consisting of assisting the general public, developers, and contractors with land use and zoning regulation interpretations and ordinance enforcement. Work includes plan reviews, analyzing data and drafting reports, researching records. The work requires considerable knowledge of planning procedures and the ability to work with the general public and developers. Responsible for enforcing statutory laws and local ordinances pertaining to minimum housing and the unified development code. Professional judgement, initiative, tact, and courtesy are required. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Planning Director. The normal work schedule includes Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Provides general land development and regulatory information to the public. Provides technical assistance to citizens, contractors, and developers, advising and explaining regulations for watershed, subdivision, and zoning ordinances; fields telephone calls and responds to emails.
Performs site plan reviews against required county and state standards to assure the regulations are met and issues zoning permits.
Provides flood hazard determinations to insurance companies, surveyors, lending institutions, and property owners.
Updates and maintains addressing data and coordinates information with 911 Communications.
Makes presentations to local governing boards as necessary to present data, project accomplishments, or other information as it relates to planning studies.
Responds to inquiries and complaints regarding possible violations of the County Unified Development Ordinance and the minimum housing code. Works with other departmental staff to remedy justified complaints.
Enforces Unified Development Code ordinance violations by letter, phone, or in person.
Enforces minimum housing code; performs inspections; conducts title searches and hearings; prepares appropriate publications; recommends and oversees demolitions when necessary.
Utilizes software program to maintain detailed records of complaints, investigations, pictures, letters, and other documents pertaining to each code case; creates, maintains, schedules, records, and updates case in system.
Assists with phone coverage in absence of administrative staff and provides basic information on the permitting process.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Considerable knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of community planning; considerable knowledge of technical ordinances, codes and regulations, pertaining to land use planning and development including zoning and subdivision principles; thorough knowledge of the Unified Development Code, Minimum Housing Code, thorough knowledge of the methods and procedures used in code enforcement; skill in the use of personal computers, associated software packages, hardware, and peripheral equipment; ability to read and interpret plans; ability to enforce codes with firmness, tact, and impartiality; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, property owners, contractors, and the public general.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in planning, geography, or related field and one (1) years' experience as a planner; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Valid Drivers License.
Ability to obtain a North Carolina Certified Zoning Official certification within 2 years of hire.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
All applications must complete and submit an online application form at www.clevelandcounty.com by the closing date.

SELECTION PROCESS: Selection will be by structured interview. Applications will be reviewed to select the best qualified applicants for admission to a structured interview.

Cleveland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer