The Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) Department is seeking a motivated and forward-thinking Principal Planner to join our Zoning Division as the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Planner to coordinate all aspects of the BZA Program and supervise one or more Associate Planners who also support the work of the BZA program. The Zoning Division is responsible for providing a wide range of services related to the administration and interpretation of regulations contained in the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, including processing applications for public hearings and providing technical assistance to citizens and the development community.  

Specific Duties: 

• Providing technical assistance and information to citizens, staff, and the development community;  
• Preparing, reviewing, analyzing, and drafting BZA monthly public notices, staff reports, photos, PowerPoint presentations, meeting minutes, disposition letters, and institutionalizing timelines for completion of applications;   
• Training staff in the analysis of Use Permit and Variance requests and reviewing staff reports for technical accuracy and consistency of approach; 
• Evaluating property conditions pursuant to the State Code and ACZO, and drafting findings the BZA must make in granting a Use Permit or Variance;  
• Advising property owners and staff on requests and recommending alternative solutions to applicants when appropriate;
• Remaining current with evolving legislation that may affect the BZA; Analyzing trends in applications to determine whether changes to the Zoning Ordinance should be considered;
• Maintaining the BZA website and all of its content, including regular updates for each public hearing;
• Maintaining a database of requests and preparing an annual report to the County Board of BZA activities; 
• Providing responses to information requests from the BZA, County staff, public, media, and other agencies; 
• Working with Zoning Plan Reviewers to assess building permit requests and ensure that they comply with the drawings approved by the BZA as well as any conditions approval; and 
• Coordinating with Zoning Enforcement staff to enforce the BZA conditions of approval for use permit and variance requests, on behalf of the BZA.

Minimum Qaulifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or related field; 
• Three years of progressive experience in urban planning, specifically in zoning, land use development and/or urban design.    

Substitution:  Additional education may be substituted for experience.  

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s Degree in a related field and/ or experience in one or more of the following:   

• Reviewing development proposals or applications and in applying adopted land use policies and ordinances in the review process;
• Knowledge of land use law related to Zoning and use of this knowledge in developing land use reports, policy studies, issue analysis, or ordinance amendments;  
• Preparing and conducting presentations in a public setting; or
• Providing substantive support to BZA, Planning Commission or other advisory groups.