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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Development Assistant

💰 $ - $

Urban PlanningCommunity DevelopmentGISLand Use

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Development Assistant provides technical and administrative support to planning teams, developers, and public agencies. Key responsibilities include preparing site and zoning analyses, maintaining GIS datasets, coordinating public outreach and permitting, drafting planning reports, and assisting with project implementation. This role is ideal for early-career professionals seeking practical experience in urban planning, land use policy, housing, transportation, and environmental review.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Planning Intern or Planning Technician
  • GIS Technician or Spatial Data Analyst
  • Community Outreach Coordinator or Housing Program Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Urban Planner / Planner I
  • Project Manager (Planning & Development)
  • Policy Analyst (Housing, Transportation, or Land Use)

Lateral Moves:

  • Housing Program Coordinator
  • Transportation Planner
  • Environmental Review Specialist
  • Zoning Administrator Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Prepare detailed site analyses, zoning compliance reviews, lot coverage calculations, and dimensional checks for proposed developments, ensuring alignment with local codes, overlay districts, and comprehensive plan policies.
  • Create, update, and maintain GIS layers and spatial databases for parcels, land use, zoning boundaries, environmental constraints, transit routes, and public amenities; produce maps and spatial visualizations for reports and public meetings.
  • Assist planners and project managers with development review workflows, including intake, checklist verification, coordination with engineering and building permit teams, and tracking project milestones in permitting software.
  • Draft clear, data-driven staff reports, planning memos, grant applications, and presentation materials that summarize technical findings, policy implications, and recommended conditions of approval for planning commissions and city councils.
  • Support public engagement and community outreach efforts by organizing stakeholder meetings, preparing outreach materials, recording public comments, summarizing feedback, and incorporating community input into planning recommendations.
  • Conduct site visits and field inventories to document existing conditions, infrastructure deficiencies (sidewalks, curbs, stormwater), and opportunities for placemaking, accessibility, and multimodal improvements.
  • Perform demographic, housing needs, and market analyses using census data, ACS, and local data sources to support affordable housing strategies, rezoning requests, and neighborhood plans.
  • Coordinate interdepartmental and external agency review for projects (public works, transportation, environmental health, utilities), resolve review comments, and follow up on required studies such as traffic impact analyses and environmental assessments.
  • Assist with the preparation and review of environmental compliance documentation, including CEQA/NEPA checklists, categorical exemptions, and mitigation monitoring plans, in coordination with environmental consultants.
  • Support permit processing for site plans, conditional use permits, variances, and subdivision applications—including preparation of application packets, fee calculations, and condition tracking through approval and construction phases.
  • Compile and maintain planning databases, standardized templates, and checklists to improve review consistency, tracking, and reporting on development activity and permit timelines.
  • Assist in drafting zoning code amendments, design guidelines, and development standards by researching best practices, benchmarking other municipalities, and preparing redline edits for senior planners.
  • Help coordinate affordable housing projects by supporting funding applications, tax credit applications, developer communications, compliance reporting, and monitoring timelines for funding milestones.
  • Analyze transportation and mobility data to support transit-oriented development (TOD) projects—coordinate with traffic engineers to model impacts, propose mitigation measures, and recommend multimodal improvements.
  • Prepare visualization materials such as site plans, streetscape diagrams, massing studies, and simple 3D models (SketchUp or ArcGIS Pro) to communicate design concepts to stakeholders and elected officials.
  • Manage project schedules, prepare agendas and minutes for interdepartmental technical review teams, and provide administrative support during public hearings and design review meetings.
  • Monitor and summarize policy and regulatory changes at the state, regional, and local levels (housing laws, transportation funding, environmental regulations) and advise the planning team on implications for local projects.
  • Support grant research and grant writing efforts for planning, infrastructure, and housing programs—compile supporting data, assist with budget justifications, and maintain grant application trackers.
  • Assist in the coordination and development of neighborhood plans, corridor studies, and small area plans, including baseline research, public workshop logistics, and draft plan production.
  • Review and summarize developer submittals (pro forma, building elevations, landscape plans) for conformity with approved entitlements and municipal design standards.
  • Help administer code enforcement responses related to land use violations, vacant building tracking, and condition compliance by documenting issues, preparing notice letters, and coordinating with enforcement staff.
  • Maintain and update the department’s public-facing project dashboards, web maps, and online permit portals to improve transparency and public access to planning information.
  • Support community benefit negotiations and implementation tracking for large-scale developments—monitor agreed conditions, affordable housing units, public improvements, and reporting requirements.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests, create custom maps, and perform exploratory data analysis to inform policy memos and planning recommendations.
  • Contribute to departmental data strategy by standardizing spatial data schemas and documentation for land use and permitting systems.
  • Collaborate with transportation, housing, and public works teams to translate policy and operational needs into actionable project tasks and technical requirements.
  • Participate in project team sprints, planning meetings, and agile-style coordination to support timely delivery of planning studies and permit reviews.
  • Provide clerical and project coordination support for grant-funded initiatives, tracking deliverables, budgets, and reporting deadlines.
  • Assist with public communication content (webpages, FAQs, meeting notices) to ensure project transparency and accessibility for diverse communities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in GIS tools (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS) for mapping, spatial analysis, and geodatabase management.
  • Experience with AutoCAD or equivalent CAD software for reading and annotating site and engineering plans.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel for data analysis, Word for reports, PowerPoint for presentations).
  • Familiarity with planning and permitting software/portals (Accela, OpenGov, ProjectDox or local equivalents).
  • Basic knowledge of zoning codes, land use regulations, subdivision standards, and municipal permit processes.
  • Ability to interpret civil and landscape plans, grading plans, and stormwater management documents.
  • Experience producing professional maps, renderings, and diagrammatic site plans; working knowledge of SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator, or InDesign a plus.
  • Competence in data analysis using Excel, basic SQL, or Python (pandas) for dataset manipulation and reporting.
  • Understanding of environmental review processes (CEQA, NEPA) and preparation of supporting documentation.
  • Grant writing and grant management experience, including compiling exhibits and budget narratives for planning and infrastructure grants.
  • Familiarity with transportation planning concepts, traffic impact study summaries, and multimodal design principles.
  • Experience with public engagement tools and digital outreach platforms (virtual meeting facilitation, survey tools, social media outreach).

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for drafting memos, presenting to public bodies, and communicating technical information to non-technical audiences.
  • Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with shifting priorities.
  • Customer-service orientation and experience interacting with developers, residents, elected officials, and interagency partners.
  • Collaborative team player who takes initiative, asks thoughtful questions, and supports cross-disciplinary work.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize data and policy into actionable recommendations.
  • Facilitation skills for community meetings, workshops, and stakeholder interviews with sensitivity to diverse perspectives.
  • Time management and task-prioritization skills to meet deadlines for permit reviews, grant reports, and public hearing materials.
  • Cultural competency and inclusive engagement practices to effectively serve diverse communities and underrepresented stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Public Policy, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Urban Planning, City/Regional Planning (MUP), Urban Studies, or a closely related discipline.
  • AICP certification or actively pursuing AICP is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Urban Planning / City & Regional Planning
  • Geography / GIS / Geospatial Science
  • Public Policy / Public Administration
  • Environmental Science / Environmental Planning
  • Civil Engineering / Transportation Planning
  • Architecture / Urban Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–4 years of professional experience in urban planning, community development, GIS, or a related municipal or consulting environment.

Preferred:

  • 2–5 years of experience supporting land use review, zoning interpretation, GIS mapping, or community engagement in a local government or planning consultancy setting.
  • Prior experience with municipal permitting systems, public hearings, and multi-stakeholder coordination; demonstrated experience working on housing, transit, or infrastructure projects preferred.
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