3E04
PAY RANGE: EP21**
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)
Acts as a lead planner in the assignment area; collects and analyzes data; assigns aspects of work to lower-level planners or interns; reviews staff members' recommendations; reviews proposed plans for consideration germane to assignment area; prepares reports detailing findings; reviews work of lower-level planners or interns 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.
Represents the agency to internal and external stakeholders; acts as project manager for grant funded projects.
Performs related work as required.
Department of Planning and Development 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.
Reviews development proposals, writes letters of plan consistency, presents staff findings to the City Planning Commission and subcommittees, and testifies at the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Determines 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 and other 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.
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; studies and projects required in the preparation of comprehensive district plans, generalized area plans; 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.
Community Health Planning Assignment
Integrates public health considerations into planning policy and project implementation; coordinates, conducts and analyses Health Impact Assessments (HIA) and makes recommendations for District Plans and other City Planning Commission adopted and accepted plans; communicates the health impacts of planning decisions to stakeholders; presents findings and recommendations at meetings; collaborates with a variety of city agencies and external partners to implement recommendations, including bicycle and pedestrian safety interventions and zoning re-mappings to improve access to health-supportive goods, services, and infrastructure; performs project management duties; manages HIA process for proposed development projects as required; convenes stakeholders to screen and scope each HIA.
Performs Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis; develops and utilizes spatial analysis tools designed to assist in identifying opportunities to improve health; develops proposals and reports; oversees the work of student interns; performs analysis as necessary on factors affecting fresh-food access, active transportation, and other health issues; develops new tools to evaluate the health impacts of major projects to incorporate health considerations into the daily activities of the City Planning Commission; develops educational materials for presentation to the public including the Citizens Planning Institute.
Represents Philadelphia City Planning Commission at events relevant to healthy planning goals; serves as a technical resource to community groups; solicits information from the community to establish health-related priorities; considers community input in planning process; engages design and development communities to build capacity and support for projects that support the healthy built-environment goals of the City Planning Commission and the Department of Public Health.
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.
Presents staff findings and recommendations to the City Planning Commission, the Philadelphia Art Commission, and their subcommittees
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.
Reviews projects for consistency with Federal, State, and local regulations; develop plans that demonstrate consistency with Federal, State, and local regulations.
Transportation Planning Assignment
Directs and conducts transportation planning studies and reports; coordinates the preparation of transportation studies for projects; revises for consistency, depth of analysis and consideration of technical engineering and other relevant factors those areas of planning studies concerned with the streets, complete streets, highways, bicycle paths, pedestrian paths and walkways; researches and advises supervisor on transportation policy issues and projects; leads work tasks for short- and long- term planning projects; assists in the development and implementation of the City’s trail and pedestrian path development projects.
Research and analyze ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation infrastructure and operations; reviews projects for consistency with Federal, State, and local regulations; develop plans that demonstrate consistency with Federal, State, and local regulations.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· the scope, history and objectives of city planning
· the physical, social and economic structure of cities
· city planning problems
· the techniques and processes of planning research
· the techniques and practices of project planning
· the principles and practices of community engagement
· 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 effect of the built environment on public health
· the intersectionality of planning with other areas including race and identity
· 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 interest 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
· research federal, state and local grants and programs related to the area of assignment
· use computerized databases
· present ideas effectively in oral, written or graphic form
· direct and advise subordinate city planners
· align 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 5/23.)
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.
OR
Two years of community engagement experience performing strategic development and design, project management or facilitating process improvements for underrepresented or underdeveloped communities or community groups.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
One year of technical city planning experience as a City Planner 2 in the area of assignment.
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Two years of technical geographic information systems work.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
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.
NOTE: Completion of a Master's degree program in a field determined to be appropriate to the area of specialization will be considered equivalent to up to two years of the general experience required.
NOTE: Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners meets the education and general experience requirements.
* Qualifying fields related to city planning include: city planning, community planning, urban planning, regional planning, community development, environmental design, transportation planning, transportation design, geography, urban studies, architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, sustainability, historic preservation, public administration or policy OR for the Environmental Planning Assignment engineering or applied science including or supplemented by coursework in environmental science or ecology.
NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification – the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with one or more of the required degrees or specific experience to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such position will be made from of the highest-ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list in accordance with the certification rule prescribed by the Director and who possess the specified degree and/or experience.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
Class Established 4/60
Spec. Revision:
CSC- 10/11; Ad. Board- 10/11
Spec Change
CSC – 12/13; Ad. Board – 12/13
Spec Change
CSC – 10/15; Ad. Board – 10/15
Spec Change:
CSC – 9/22
Ad. Board – 10/22
Latest Spec Revision:
CSC – 4/23
Ad. Board – 5/23
JA