Agricultural Land Use Planner
Salary: $36.80-$44.93 hourly / $6,401-$7,814 monthly /
Range: 6562
DEFINITION: Under direction, performs a variety of tasks
in support of agricultural land use planning and resource
protection; and performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Incumbents in this
single-position job class function at the advanced journey level in
agricultural land use planning and may supervise other professional
and clerical staff. This classification is distinguished from
classifications in the Planner job series by its focus on
agricultural land use.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
- Reviews existing laws, ordinances, community plans, and other
regulations governing the use of agricultural lands; holds public
meetings to obtain input on policy development, and makes
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors or its appointed
commissions regarding amendments to regulations placed on the use
of agricultural lands
- Helps the public understand the laws, ordinances, plans, and
policies governing land use in Santa Barbara County and explains
the County’s development review process for agricultural lands.
- Conducts meetings with representatives of other County
departments in order to review development projects.
- Analyzes proposed uses of agricultural land for compliance
with State and County goals, policies, plans, ordinances, and
relevant governing regulations related to agriculture; negotiates
mitigation measures and proposed permit conditions.
- Serves as a technical resource and provides public outreach
for businesses, landowners, the general public, and other County
departments on sustainable agriculture, agricultural/urban
interface, agricultural resource protection, and related issues.
- Plans, researches, analyzes, and writes a variety of complex
reports related to special studies and assignments; computes
descriptive statistics in preparing reports.
- Prepares and presents staff reports on complex and
controversial cases to the Agricultural Advisory Committee,
Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors in public
hearings.
- Serves as project manager for special planning studies
including the review of proposals, work products, and billings by
outside consultants.
- Collaborates with other County land use planners from the
Comprehensive Planning and Development Review divisions, works as
part of the team of planners analyzing and evaluating projects and
proposals.
- Provides professional staff support to the Agricultural
Advisory Committee by coordinating and attending meetings,
supplying technical assistance, preparing advisory reports, and
helping the committee present its proposals to shape or modify
County policies and ordinances.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
- Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited
university, preferably including course work in agricultural,
biological, life, physical, or social sciences; urban and regional
planning; geography; environmental studies; natural resource
management; economics; public administration; political science,
or government; and two years of advanced journey-level
professional land use planning experience related to resource
management of agricultural lands; OR developing land use policies
or regulations for designated areas that included agricultural
lands, OR applying zoning regulations, community plan policies,
CEQA, NEPA, and other ordinances or policies in a land use
planning environment that included agricultural lands; or,
- a combination of training, education, and experience that is
equivalent to the employment standards listed above and that
provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Knowledge of: principles and practices of agricultural
resource protection and agricultural land use planning; general
agricultural practices and operations; urban and regional planning,
land use development review, resource management, and environmental
review; state and federal laws, policies, and regulations related to
planning and environmental issues including CEQA and NEPA; urban and
rural development and conservation; inter-agency and intra-agency
relationships related to planning projects; principles and practices
of project management; principles and practices of contract
management to monitor work of consultants; basic math and
statistics; public relations, public meeting processes, and
community outreach.
Ability to: carry out work independently; read,
understand, and interpret regulations and policies; compile and
analyze relevant information including statistical data, applicable
laws and polices, and regulations in order to draw valid conclusions
and develop recommendations to resolve issues; communicate
effectively orally and in writing; write and review staff reports,
policies, ordinances, and correspondence using correct grammar,
spelling, and punctuation; prepare and give public presentations
before decision-making bodies; conduct and facilitate group meetings
to obtain input on policy development and planning decisions;
establish and maintain cooperative working relationships; clarify
and mediate conflicts among groups of stakeholders; negotiate
agreements; work effectively with boards and commissions; record
information and maintain for future access; organize work and set
priorities to meet deadlines; establish and maintain effective
working relationships with co-workers and the public; use personal
computers including standard office applications such as word
processing, spreadsheet, database, and multimedia presentation
software; read and understand site plans, architectural drawings,
and topographic maps.
In addition to the minimum educational requirements, it is
highly desirable for applicants to have completed a master’s degree
in a related field with emphasis on:
- public administration,
- land use planning and policy,
- agricultural economics,
- environmental planning and policy, or
- regional economic development.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
is also highly desirable.
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License may be
required. |
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