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urban planning coordinator

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Planning Coordinator
salary: $55,000 - $90,000
categories: ["Urban Planning", "City Planning", "Zoning", "GIS", "Transportation", "Community Development"]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Urban Planning Coordinator.
Comprehensive responsibilities and required skills for an Urban Planning Coordinator.
Includes long-form, recruiter-style role responsibilities, technical and soft skills,
education and experience expectations, and career progression pathways optimized for
SEO and machine reading (keywords: Urban Planning Coordinator, land use, zoning, GIS,
community engagement, development review, environmental review, transportation planning).

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Planning Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, researching, and implementing land use, zoning, and community development initiatives that support sustainable growth, regulatory compliance, and high-quality built environments. This role serves as a frontline planner for development review, public engagement, GIS mapping, permit coordination, and interdepartmental project delivery, ensuring alignment with municipal plans, policies, and state regulations.

Key search-optimized focus areas: Urban Planning Coordinator, land use planning, zoning administration, community engagement, GIS mapping, development review, planning policy, transportation and environmental review.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Planning Technician / Planning Assistant
  • GIS Analyst or GIS Technician with planning exposure
  • Community Development Specialist or Permit Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Planner / Project Planner
  • Principal or Lead Urban Planner
  • City/County Planning Manager or Planning Division Director

Lateral Moves:

  • Transportation Planner
  • Economic Development Coordinator
  • Environmental Planner / Sustainability Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate and manage the end-to-end development review process for zoning compliance, conditional use permits, site plan reviews, and land subdivision applications—conducting technical reviews, preparing staff reports, and recommending conditions of approval to planning commissions and elected bodies.
  • Prepare clear, concise, and legally-sound written staff reports, planning memos, and briefing documents for hearings, council meetings, and interdepartmental sign-offs, integrating statutory requirements, municipal codes, and project-specific findings.
  • Lead public outreach and community engagement efforts for planning projects and land use proposals, including organizing and facilitating public meetings, workshops, design charrettes, and stakeholder interviews to solicit input and build consensus.
  • Maintain and administer zoning codes and ordinances, interpret land use regulations for applicants and the public, and coordinate ordinance updates and code amendments in partnership with legal counsel and senior planners.
  • Produce and manage GIS maps, spatial analyses, and visual exhibits to support development review, comprehensive planning, corridor studies, and grant applications using ArcGIS, QGIS or equivalent mapping software.
  • Review building permit referrals and coordinate with building, engineering, fire, and transportation departments to ensure coherent interdepartmental approvals and compliance with site development standards and right-of-way requirements.
  • Conduct land use, policy, and regulatory research—including demographic analyses, market trend reviews, case law, and precedent studies—to inform planning recommendations and long-range plan updates.
  • Administer and monitor planning-related permits and certificates of compliance, track conditions of approval, and coordinate inspection and enforcement follow-up where development fails to meet approved plans.
  • Support preparation and implementation of long-range and small area plans, corridor studies, neighborhood plans, and capital improvement project inputs by compiling background data, drafting plan chapters, and coordinating public review cycles.
  • Review and evaluate environmental and transportation impact studies, coordinating with environmental scientists, traffic engineers, and consultants to identify mitigation measures and recommend conditions of approval.
  • Assist in drafting, securing, and managing planning grants and state/federal funding applications, prepare required exhibits and budget narratives, and manage reporting requirements to funding agencies.
  • Coordinate consultant selection processes (RFP/RFQ), manage consultant scopes, schedules, and deliverables for professional services related to planning studies, urban design, and environmental analyses.
  • Maintain and update planning databases, project trackers, and online portals for applications and public records to ensure transparency, efficient processing times, and accurate performance metrics.
  • Provide professional planning advice and technical assistance to developers, property owners, neighborhood groups, and council members—explaining regulatory requirements, discretionary review steps, and design guidelines in plain language.
  • Develop and deliver presentations to planning commissions, committees, and community groups—preparing slide decks, visual materials, and speaking notes that clearly articulate technical issues and policy trade-offs.
  • Coordinate implementation of affordable housing, inclusionary zoning, and land use incentive programs—monitoring compliance, affordability covenants, and reporting on program outcomes.
  • Participate in multi-disciplinary project teams for placemaking, streetscape, and public realm improvements—working with transportation, parks, and public works teams to align design, funding, and timelines.
  • Monitor and analyze planning performance indicators (application volumes, review timelines, permit issuance metrics) and recommend process improvements to enhance customer service and regulatory efficiency.
  • Respond to citizen complaints and code compliance inquiries related to land use, zoning violations, and property maintenance—investigating issues and coordinating enforcement as necessary.
  • Maintain knowledge of local, state, and federal planning laws and policies (e.g., zoning enabling acts, SEPA/NEPA requirements) and ensure that departmental recommendations are legally defensible and policy aligned.
  • Prepare outreach materials and maintain web content for planning projects, including project pages, maps, FAQ documents, and online comment collection portals to improve public access and transparency.
  • Support interdepartmental coordination for large-scale developments, infrastructure projects, and special events—serving as liaison to public works, utilities, transit agencies, and emergency services.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior planning staff, interns, and temporary employees—reviewing work products and supporting professional development.
  • Maintain up-to-date planning datasets and archival records, ensure GIS layers and permit logs are accurate, and create downloadable data products for internal and public use.
  • Facilitate plan implementation follow-through by tracking milestones, coordinating schedules for inspections and bond releases, and ensuring completion of developer obligations such as landscaping, sidewalks, and public improvements.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with drafting and updating the municipal comprehensive plan elements (land use, housing, transportation, and natural resources) and prepare supporting appendices and data tables.
  • Support grant administration and reporting for planning-related grants, including CDBG, HUD, state transportation, and resilience funding.
  • Produce design guidelines, graphics, and renderings to support visual review boards, using SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools.
  • Manage public notice processes, including legal postings, mailed notices, and web-based notifications in accordance with local code requirements.
  • Compile and maintain historical planning case records and prepare executive summaries for archival and compliance use.
  • Participate in zoning code modernization and form-based code projects, helping to draft code language and mapping changes.
  • Coordinate with economic development staff to identify development-ready sites and support brownfield redevelopment and site assembly initiatives.
  • Provide back-up coverage for planning reception, intake of applications, and front-counter customer service during peak processing periods.
  • Assist in the preparation of fiscal impact analysis and development pro forma reviews to inform decision-makers on public costs and benefits.
  • Support climate resilience and sustainability initiatives, integrating green infrastructure, stormwater best practices, and tree canopy goals into development conditions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Professional knowledge of land use planning principles, zoning codes, subdivision regulations, and municipal permitting processes.
  • Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS Desktop/Pro, ArcGIS Online, or QGIS) for map creation, spatial analysis, and data visualization.
  • Experience with development review workflows, site plan analysis, and technical plan checking (grading, stormwater, right-of-way impacts).
  • Familiarity with environmental review processes (e.g., SEPA, NEPA), environmental mitigation measures, and coordination with environmental consultants.
  • Competency with transportation and traffic review basics, including reading traffic studies and coordinating with traffic engineers and transit agencies.
  • Strong technical writing skills for producing staff reports, ordinances, grant narratives, and legal notices.
  • Experience with public engagement tools and digital platforms (Zoom/webinars, online comment forms, project websites, social media outreach).
  • Ability to produce professional graphics and diagrams using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, or SketchUp for public-facing materials.
  • Working knowledge of property and land records, parcel mapping, and municipal GIS datasets.
  • Proficiency with project management tools and Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with permitting or case management software.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent verbal communication and public speaking skills for hearings, community meetings, and stakeholder briefings.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement and consensus-building ability—comfortable mediating between developers, neighborhood groups, and elected officials.
  • Critical thinking and analytical problem-solving to balance policy goals with pragmatic development outcomes.
  • High attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, defensible planning recommendations under deadline pressure.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to handle concurrent projects and fluctuating workloads.
  • Political sensitivity and professional discretion when handling controversial or high-profile land use matters.
  • Collaborative mindset and ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, legal, public works, and economic development teams.
  • Customer service orientation—able to explain complex regulations in clear, accessible language to the public.
  • Initiative and adaptability to implement process improvements and new software/tools.
  • Ethical conduct and commitment to public interest, equity, and inclusion in planning outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, City & Regional Planning, Geography, Public Policy, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Urban Planning (MUP/MURP), City Planning, Urban Design, or related advanced degree.
  • Professional certification such as AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) preferred where applicable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Urban and Regional Planning
  • Geography / GIS
  • Architecture / Urban Design
  • Public Policy / Public Administration
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–5 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, development review, or community development; entry-level candidates with strong GIS and permitting experience may be considered.

Preferred:

  • 3–7 years of municipal planning or agency experience with demonstrated experience in development review, public engagement, and ordinance interpretation.
  • Experience preparing staff reports for planning commissions and elected bodies. AICP certification and prior experience with comprehensive plan updates, zoning code amendments, and grant administration preferred.
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