MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Code No. 4403

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND Grade 23

CLASS SPECIFICATION

PLANNING SPECIALIST III

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is full performance work in a planning specialization such as community development, environmental planning, land use, or transportation planning. Contacts include staff from County departments/agencies to develop work programs and coordinate projects; Council staff to brief on planning issues and participate in worksessions and public hearings; staff from State and local governments to cooperate in joint ventures; representatives of business, educational, and non-profit organizations to present information, advise, and support; and financial institutions to elicit support and coordinate services. The majority of employees in this class do not provide direct service or assistance to the public.

Employees in this class conduct and/or monitor a variety of planning studies and activities relative to their assigned planning area. These activities include coordinating the development of affordable housing projects in the County, assessing social service needs in the County, managing the County's Hazardous Waste Program, reviewing local zoning amendments for policy compliance, and performing parking analysis studies recommending options to accede to increasing demands in various districts. The supervisor defines the objectives and priorities of the study or project to be conducted and establishes the deadlines. The employee plans and carries out the work in accordance with previous training, instructions or policies. The work is reviewed for technical soundness and conformity to policy and other considerations. The employee refers to administrative policies and applicable regulations in performing the work; however, specific guidelines for the work are scarce. The employee must use initiative and resourcefulness in developing methods for accomplishing planning objectives. The complexity of the work is characterized by a variety of processes associated with conducting studies or implementing projects in specialized areas of County programs. These studies require the assessment of non-standard conditions and analysis of sensitive issues in order to develop responsive strategies. The work is complicated by conflicting requirements and objectives held by a variety of governmental, private and public interest groups involved in the planning process. The work involves treating a variety of planning problems, issues or concerns that affect the design, operation, or delivery of program services. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a normal office environment, and is not associated with any unusual hazards or physical demands.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

All Specializations:

Plans, develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates planning projects related to the assigned planning area.

Manages contracts supporting assigned planning projects; monitors contractor's performance for compliance with project requirements and objectives.

Conducts field studies and surveys to collect original research data for County planning projects, which require the collection, analysis, and interpretation of empirical, statistical, and historical data.

Prepares detailed narrative and statistical reports which present and summarize research information and provides planning options and recommendations.

Consults with local officials, the business community, and civic leaders, as directed, to collect and disseminate information, promote cooperative efforts, and provide support and assistance.

Analyzes and recommends revisions to existing County plans, programs, and regulations to improve service and efficiency.

Presents information to public and private organizations, non-profit organizations, and the County Council to explain, defend, or justify issues related to assigned planning area.

Performs related duties as required.

Community Development Planning:

Plans and implements programs and projects associated with the development of public facilities and services including the development of affordable housing; rehabilitation of low- and moderate-income housing; commercial revitalization; and the implementation of public safety, human and social service delivery systems.

Develops strategies, plans, and mechanisms for coordinating human service programs, plans, budgets and services, including comprehensive, long range planning.

Develops position and option papers on organizational structure, focus and direction of the County's human service delivery systems.

Plans and develops studies to assess community development needs; conducts surveys to collect necessary data; evaluates data, proposes alternatives, and recommends decisions for delivery of assistance and services.

Monitors subgrantees and contractors for compliance with Federal and County requirements in their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.

Reviews and processes applications from non-profit group home operators for assistance under rehabilitation and handicapped accessibility guidelines; monitors projects for compliance with contract provisions and prepares reports.

Evaluates appropriate data and examines the eligibility of new or recommended commercial areas with regard to local policies and State and/or Federal program requirements.

Environmental Planning:

Plans and implements programs and projects dealing with water supply and sewerage systems; stormwater management and stream restoration; solid and hazardous waste management; waste recycling; noise control and quarry licencing.

Oversees implementation of water main and sewer line extension including coordinating requests for water and sewer service category changes and developing recommendations for MNCPPC and the County Council.

Guides the County's hazardous waste planning program, representing the Executive Branch on County Council task force in developing legislation, and in interagency planning efforts.

Monitors the County's sewage sludge management program, representing the Executive Branch in efforts related to the assessment and improvement of composting conditions, regional management issues, and review of permits for landspreading of sludge.

Reviews and tracks selected Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Capital Improvement Projects in water and sewer areas for cost-effectiveness, technical adequacy, and public acceptability.

Manages the County's yard trim recycling program and monitors contractor operations to ensure compliance with program specifications.

Land Use Planning:

Plans and performs projects relating to the implementation of approved master plans in accordance with State and local laws and to the integration of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance with the Capital Improvement Program.

Develops detailed reports on population characteristics, current land uses and zoning, status of development projects in the "pipeline", and functional systems such as streets, water and sewer lines, mass transit, schools, public safety.

Reviews and analyzes Master plan amendments, rezoning proposals, special exception requests, historic preservation and annexation proposals for consistency with Executive policy.

Develops planning procedures for the implementation of Executive Branch recommendations on the adequacy of public facilities for each preliminary plan of subdivision referred from the Planning Board.

Conducts studies of amendments to the zoning ordinance or subdivision regulations, with emphasis on policy issues and implementation problems.

Consults with community residents and civic leaders, as well as government representatives, regarding issues of concern in areas subject to master plan amendments.

Transportation Planning:

Plans and implements transportation planning projects to implement policies covering such components as highways; parking; mass transit; road maintenance; aviation; sidewalks and bikeways; transportation system management and financing.

Oversees the "Alternative Transportation" program (designed to encourage use of mass transit), including providing direction to consultants in the formation of transportation management associations, working with developers in devising trip-reduction programs for their developments, and formulating other innovative public-private partnerships with the goal of reducing travel demand.

Plans, organizes and supervises collection of data on bus service; analyzes data and makes recommendations on adjustments to service to increase economic efficiency and satisfy passenger demands.

Determines areas in which parking is deficient by identifying the number of parking spaces which are not provided for by developers through the preparation/evaluation/analysis of projected parking needs based on land use.

Plans and conducts parking studies and field investigations and develops recommendations for operation of new facilities or changes in existing facilities through evaluation/analysis of data taking into consideration parking management tactics and strategies.

Cooperates with other agencies in developing evaluation criteria for Candidate Highway Improvements Program (CHIP) which is designed to establish a priority rating of CIP work considering factors such as demographics, traffic volume, road congestion and related items.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Considerable (3 years) experience in a planning specialization appropriate to the assignment of the position.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or University with a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate planning specialization or related field.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education or experience may be substituted.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of the planning specialization appropriate to the assignment of the position.

Considerable knowledge of the methods of statistical analysis and skill in interpreting numerical research data.

Considerable knowledge of how communities, as a whole, and their component systems function and develop.

Considerable knowledge of the regulations and procedures of contract administration.

Skill in explaining and defending ideas and positions both orally and in writing.

Skill in carrying out or monitoring technical planning studies.

Ability to deal tactfully, effectively and equitably with people.

Ability to attend meetings or perform work assignments at locations outside the office.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed or promoted to this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History Review

Class Established: October 1967

Revised: October 1971

August 1972

November 1973

April 1977

August 1987

August 1995 (M)

October 1999