Development Planner

Development Authority for Complex Files (65%)

• Acts as the delegated Development Authority for complex development permit applications, including major industrial, commercial, institutional, and other significant proposals, in accordance with the Land Use Bylaw, statutory plans, and applicable legislation.
• Independently reviews, analyzes, coordinates, and renders decisions on complex development applications involving significant technical, operational, environmental, financial, public, or political considerations.
• Determines application completeness, identifies key planning and development issues, coordinates internal and external technical review requirements, and establishes approval or refusal rationale and conditions.
• Interprets and applies the Municipal Government Act, Subdivision and Development Regulation, Land Use Bylaw, Municipal Development Plan, Area Structure Plans, intermunicipal planning documents, and related County policies to complex applications.
• Leads the review of complex development applications by coordinating comments and requirements from internal departments, external agencies, utilities, and specialized consultants, and serves as the primary County contact for major development proponents.
• Identifies risks, constraints, servicing implications, design issues, and regulatory considerations early in the review process, including where permit-readiness, life safety, or other technical considerations may materially affect development review or implementation.
• Chairs or facilitates pre-application meetings, technical review meetings, and applicant coordination meetings for complex development proposals.
• Reviews and determines the need for development agreements, encroachment agreements, memorandums of understanding, restrictive covenants, caveats, and related development instruments.
• Leads negotiations with applicants, landowners, consultants, and agencies to achieve compliant, defensible, and practical development outcomes that align with County objectives.
• Monitors file progress, decision milestones, condition clearance requirements, and follow-up matters associated with complex files, including amendments, compliance certificates, and related approvals.
• Conducts site inspections as required to verify application details, assess context, confirm site constraints, and evaluate compliance with approved plans and conditions.
• Supports enforcement and compliance matters related to complex approvals, non-compliance issues, and interpretation disputes, in coordination with Development Compliance Officers and other County departments as required

External Regulatory Review and Participation (10%)

• Monitors external regulatory filings, notices, hearings, and project lists that may affect the County’s land use planning interests, infrastructure, operations, environment, economic development, or long-term growth objectives.
• Reviews applications under the jurisdiction of bodies such as the Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta Energy Regulator, and other applicable provincial or federal authorities, and identifies matters where County participation, comment, monitoring, or intervention may be warranted.
• Coordinates and consolidates internal technical review and comments on external regulatory applications and processes, and prepares correspondence, submissions, statements of concern, technical comments, and briefing materials to represent or support the County’s position.
• Represents or supports the County in external regulatory proceedings, consultations, pre-hearing processes, hearings, and related forums as an observer, participant, or intervener, as directed.
• Tracks decisions, approval conditions, hearing outcomes, and emerging external projects, and provides analysis and advice to leadership on implications for County planning, servicing, infrastructure, and policy objectives.

Planning Analysis and Special Projects (15%)

• Participates in or leads special projects related to development process improvements and the use of technology in those improvements, Land Use Bylaw updates, development policy reviews, and implementation of statutory planning direction.
• Undertakes research and prepares analysis on current and emerging planning and development matters affecting the County.
• Provides technical input on statutory plan amendments, land use bylaw amendments, planning studies, and development-related policy initiatives.
• Supports the implementation of strategic planning and development objectives by translating policy direction into practical development review and approval approaches.
• Recommends improvements to procedures, templates, standards, and internal processes to increase consistency, defensibility, customer service, efficiency, and alignment between development review and permit-readiness considerations.

Hearings, Advisory Services, and Department Support (10%)

• Prepares reports, recommendations, briefing materials, and presentations for Council, committees, the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, and other bodies as required.
• Represents the County in meetings, appeal hearings, public engagement events, intermunicipal discussions, industry forums, and external agency processes related to development applications or planning matters.
• Explains regulations, conditions, decisions, and development processes to applicants, consultants, landowners, the public, and elected officials in a clear, professional, and defensible manner.
• Provides technical advice, guidance, and mentorship to Development Officers, technical staff, and other colleagues on complex files, interpretation issues, and best practices.
• Supports a collaborative, solutions-focused team environment through knowledge sharing, consistent interpretation of policy and regulation, and other related duties and special projects as required.
• Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the County’s Health and Safety Management System.