Location of Zoning Administrator in your organization?

[dandy_warhol]

The way our departments are currently organized there is no actual Zoning Administrator. In our Building Department there is a lower level Zoning Enforcement Officer. We are discussing reorganizing the Building, Code, ED, Planning, Housing, and CD departments into a Development Services Dept. or something. We've been discussing eliminating the ZEO position and creating a Zoning Administrator position instead. Where in your organizational structure is your Zoning Administrator or equivalent?

[ursus]

We are a Development Services Department, but it seems like our structure has little in common with yours (i.e. we're a LOT smaller it sounds like). Our department consists of a City Planner (who is also the "Zoning Administrator" because of some of the language in code) a Building Official, a Business License Official and a Code Enforcement Officer. We each function autonomously (but as a group) under direct supervision of the City Manager.

I think the question is: What does the title Zoning Administrator have to do for you? I am the Zoning Administrator when I make determinations on matters of code on behalf of the city, when I send orders to cease operations for violations of terms of Conditional Uses, etc. I do all of that because I'm the only Planner here. What's your situation?

[dandy_warhol]

Our situation is that currently no one is officially making any zoning determinations. The ZEO is useless and sends all his work to our Planner I who often ends up making the determination. I'm not comfortable with this situation. We're talking about having the Senior Planner assume the duties of a Zoning Administrator but I'm concerned about assigning those duties to a non-manager. I'm advocating that the current Director of Building and Construction/Supervisor of Code Enforcement become the ZA but my boss, the PD doesn't want that guy to do it. I also suggested that my PD become the ZA but as a political appointee he knows very little about zoning.

[Gedunker]

Here, the ZA is a stand alone position that reports directly to the Planning Director. As the position is vacant, that means the PD (lil ol' me) also gets the ZA title (and headaches).

[jcshepard]

Typically, Zoning Administrator is manager of your planning program--whomever interprets the sticky bits, and schedules code updates. A ZA may do code enforcement, but you don't want an enforcer doing administration. And a "Senior Planner" often is a management-level position, but you have to talk to HR about that.

[ursus]

Our situation is that currently no one is officially making any zoning determinations. The ZEO is useless and sends all his work to our Planner I who often ends up making the determination. I'm not comfortable with this situation. We're talking about having the Senior Planner assume the duties of a Zoning Administrator but I'm concerned about assigning those duties to a non-manager. I'm advocating that the current Director of Building and Construction/Supervisor of Code Enforcement become the ZA but my boss, the PD doesn't want that guy to do it. I also suggested that my PD become the ZA but as a political appointee he knows very little about zoning.

I agree the Senior Planner is a natural choice, but the non-management part can be an issue. It's removed for us because we have no true department head other than the CM, who'd make a poor ZA because he needs to be once removed from some of those situations because of political pressures.

So I'm the perfect candidate for it. No true boss, and I'm the Planner. Why don't you outsource it to me here? I'll do it for a small consulting fee. In fact, I'd do it for the joy of e-hanging out with you once in a while.

[stroskey]

Typically, Zoning Administrator is manager of your planning program--whomever interprets the sticky bits, and schedules code updates. A ZA may do code enforcement, but you don't want an enforcer doing administration. And a "Senior Planner" often is a management-level position, but you have to talk to HR about that.

Why can't the enforcer do administration? What do you suggest in small town where there is only one person in charge of all aspects of the zoning ordinance?

[mendelman]

Huzzah...I shall comment, because my actual title is Planning and Zoning Administrator. In my organization, I make the everyday interpretations and decisions regarding zoning and code enforcement. Although, I am not technically management, my decisions are reinforced by my Director (since I have more planning and zoning experience than him - he's a more Eco Dev guy). Though, I will on occasion confer with my Dir. on potential red flag or Econ Dev related items.

In my other experiences, when I was a Director I entrusted and trusted the decision making ability of my Code Enforcement Administrator (basically the same as a Zoning Admin) to make appropriate decisions regarding zoning and code enforcement. And at another muni, the zoning review and interpretation responsibilities have been seized by the Planning Dir from the Building dept just before I got there. Basically, everyday permit and enforcement driven zoning decisions were under separate Dept heads from the long(er) range planning decisions/activities like rezoning, PUD plan review, text amendments, etc. The PD wanted to have control over all aspects of zoning and planning review/interpretation, but was wise enough to not have to perform field inspections on construction sites or general code enforcement.

In your case dandy, perhaps your PD needs to try to simply get the permit zoning review and interpretation responsibilities, and give day to day decision making to a trusted staff member in the Planning Dept.

Good Luck.

[Coragus]

Our agency is divided into two divisions. The one across the hall is called Current Land Use and the ZA works in there.

[NHPlanner]

My department (Community Development) has a Planning & Zoning Administrator who has the authority to make all the determinations on the Ordinance. While she has all the actual authority, she typically consults with both our Assistant Planner and myself (CD Director) before making any determination that is not "routine."

In my previous 2 jobs, the Building Inspector or Chief Building Official had the zoning administrator "power" based on how the ordinances were written in those 2 communities.

[AG74683]

Here, the Planning Director is also:

The Zoning Administrator
The Watershed Administrator
The Code Enforcement Officer

I am the Planning Director, and the only one in my department. I guess the title should really be "Planner" because I don't have anyone to direct, but its spelled out in the code as Director.

[Suburb Repairman]

My structure has the Planning Director (me), supervising the following:
- Planner
- Code Enforcement Officer
- Permit Coordinator
- Tourism/Main Street Manager
- Contracted Building Official & Building Inspections

I am co-housed with the City Engineer, and we report to the Assistant City Manager (who happens to be a former planner--blessing and a curse).

The Planning Director is designated as the Zoning Administrator, which allows me to do it myself or deligate it. I typically delegate it to my Planner. My Code Enforcement Officer kicks ass, but she'll be the first to tell you that she is not comfortable making a zoning determination on her own.

[Brocktoon]

Our ZA is also a principal planner (above a senior planner but below the director.) Our ZA does both planning work and zoning interps and variances.

Planning is part of the development services department which includes: planning, engineering, CIP, code enforcement, building inspection, traffic and plan review. ED was moved out of development services 18 months ago and placed in the city manager office.

[shell_waster]

We are setup as Planning & Zoning and have a permits and license analyst, code enforcement officer, building inspector, planner/zoning administrator and a director. I'm the planner/zoning administrator with the official title of senior planner, which makes no sense as I'm the only planner. My boss, the director, leaves the day-to-day operations, code interpretations, staff reports with recommendations and public hearings to me. He is deeply involved in the redevelopment authority and all the projects and issue that no one else in the City will step up and handle. We are housed in the same building as our engineering department and main street department. My boss, the engineering director and main street program all answer to the assistant city manager/public works director.

[mike gurnee]

In the SE corner of City Hall.

[rcgplanner]

My department is divided into two divisions, Planning and Building. Code Enforcement is handled through an entirely different department, the City Attorney's office, thank god! The official zoning administrator is the Director of Community Development although staff planners serve as acting zoning administrator when it comes to smaller determinations and over-the-counter permits that require ZA approval.