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1 | Page Planning Is About Collaboration Planning is a highly collaborative field, and planners spend much of their time working with others. A planner's day may start with a staff meeting to discuss the management of a planning project. Other meetings might include a team meeting with engineers, architects, and landscape architects to review the specifics of a plan. Yet other meetings might take place with residents to discuss home improvement projects. The planner's role is to provide the big picture and to relate the project to various goals and guidelines, such as ordinances, in order to achieve a final project that meets the needs of the community. This might include appropriate design, environmental considerations, support for the local economy, or equitable access for all members of the community. The Planning Department reviews development proposals with the guidance of the Comprehensive Plan and the City Code. The Comprehensive Plan is the city's long-range guide to how property should be developed or redeveloped. The City Code regulates many aspects of land-use including the type of use, requirements, setbacks, and general standards. Typical Day On a typical day, the Planning Division will: • Meet with developers, land owners and residents inquiring about development or redevelopment of property. • Review residential, commercial and industrial building plans • Answer residents' inquiries regarding building setbacks, lot coverage and building height requirements • Review sign permit applications and answer inquiries regarding size, location and height requirements for signage • Conduct follow-up inspections and investigate complaints regarding Zoning Ordinance compliance Zoning and Approvals The zoning district section of city codes establishes the different types of districts, for example residential, commercial or industrial/manufacturing, and sets the regulations for each district. Districts also may have further designations reflecting desired density and use. Use designations, usually in a list form, specify the permitted, conditionally permitted and prohibited uses for a district or zone. The following types of uses generally are found in a zoning ordinance: Permitted uses Uses allowed in a district as a matter of right, without further need for review or approval of the city. Prohibited Uses Uses not permitted in a district under any circumstances. An explicit listing of prohibited uses is rare. Many ordinances simply will provide that any uses not specifically listed are deemed prohibited.