The City of Jamestown is currently filling the following positions. Please make sure to read the job details in full and follow the appropriate instructions.
Senior Level Planner
The City of Jamestown is soliciting for a senior level planner and invites all interested candidates to submit their resumes and letters of reference to Mr. Vince DeJoy at the Department of Development, 3rd Floor; Municipal Building; 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14071.
The City of Jamestown is located in the southwestern corner of New York State and is the largest city in Chautauqua County with a population of approximately 31,000 residents. Jamestown is located south of Buffalo, NY within an hour-and-a half automobile drive. Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are within a three hour drive. Toronto, Ontario also is within a three hour drive of the city.
The City also is within a short drive to the Chautauqua Institution that attracts more than 100,000 visitors to their grounds annually for education and personal enrichment. The Institution is a nationally and internationally recognized center located seventeen miles northwest of the city
Jamestown boasts a number of destinations with the latest being the National Comedy Center, slated to open in August of this year. Comedy is of great interest in this community as it is the “home town” of Lucille Ball and the main attraction for the Lucille Ball – Desi Arnaz Museum also located in the downtown.
The city also has more national and international famous “sons”. The Roger Try Peterson Institute is located in the eastern part of the city is an impressive tribute to the famous “birder” and naturalist that grew up in the City.
The Robert H. Jackson Center located on the edge of the downtown, tells the story of the international famous legal mind that was a significant part of the Nuremburg Trials which tried Nazis war criminals after World War II.
The City, not unlike many communities in the northeast of the United States, has experienced a number of decades of decline because of the change from the industrial economy that the community was built on. Good bones are still quite evident and a renaissance is taking place in the community.
In 2006, the City adopted an Urban Design Plan, developed with a nationally and internationally recognized urban design firm and in 2007 an award for the plan was given by the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Many planning studies have been done to date and maybe accessed through the City’s web site under the Department of Development.
The Urban Design Plan began the renaissance within the community, forging a direction and partnerships within the community and outside the community essential for growth and positive change to take place.
In 2016 the City was awarded the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant of ten million dollars for a number of projects that are in various stages of completion with some still to be begun. Jamestown was privileged to be the recipient in the first round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative for the Western New York region of New York State.
A renewed interest in reinvestment has begun and in 2018 the City was awarded a gold level National Planning Association Achievement Award for Implementation. The award recognizes the Urban Design Plan’s success in reversing the economic decline of the city’s downtown area, setting a new course that has attracted new jobs, community attractions and business investment.
An on-going effort has begun to establish a rail link between the city and the Buffalo, NY and Toronto, Ont., Canada market via excursion trains, Additional work is needed in the riverfront area in the downtown core and connecting that with other “nature” areas in the Chadakoin Park area and connection with the lake itself.
Currently, the same urban design firm has returned to update the previous plan with additional areas that are in need of attention and implementation.
A great deal of planning has been done but much more needed. Many opportunities and challenges still need to be addressed. Building off of the past efforts creating additional planning work will result in a success for this community.
About the Position
The City of Jamestown is seeking a skilled senior level planner with an interest in improving the livability and economic rebirth of the community. The planner will have a background in urban design, planning, and land resource management. The planner will provide unbiased guidance on all development activities including design, historic preservation, and environmental impact to the Department of Development, Planning Commission, Department of Public Works, and City Council.
Experience and understanding on the development side as well as the planning side would be viewed as an asset. The planner will report directly to the JURA Executive Secretary/Director of Development.
Job Duties
Planning activities
Coordinates the approval process for plan adoption.
Coordination with various entities to ensure the continued successful implementation of the award winning Urban Design Plan and with all other adopted plans. Provides guidance in design and makes recommendations for funding.
Coordination with various entities to ensure the continued successful implementation of the award winning Urban Design Plan and with all other adopted plans. Provides guidance in design and makes recommendations for funding.
Provides technical assistance and guides private developers through the regulatory process.
Authors or contributes to the writing of specific plans for adoption and coordinates the approval process working closely with Zoning, Public Works Department, and coordinates public input.
Evaluates all site plan review work and all drawings making recommendations to the City of Jamestown Planning Commission and guides them through the planning process.
Writes Requests for Proposals to hire planning consultants, architects, and development firms and works in close coordination with the chosen consultants to ensure planning process moves ahead in a timely fashion.
Consults to City Council with regard to recommending changes to existing plans or clarifying the need for new plans and zoning changes or amendments.
Zoning
Authors or contributes to the writing of specific zoning changes and amendments.
Site plan and historic preservation review
Coordinates the City’s site plan review and historic preservation review process with applicants and all city, county and state governmental agencies involved.
Reliable coordination and guidance of City Planning and Zoning activities such as meetings, monitoring compliance with local, state, and federal laws, and ensuring deadlines are met by developers.
Works closely with SHPO, architects, and developers to coordinate rehabilitation, expansion, restoration, and adaptive re-use activities.
Design review of downtown façade projects and preparation of conceptual designs for downtown improvements.
Coordination of rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive-reuse and building expansion activities.
Environmental review
Coordinates the SEQRA and NEPA environmental review process and policy analysis and works with developers to coordinate process and deadlines.
Grant applications
Propose potential projects for grant applications, assists in the writing of the grant and contributes to the administration of the grant.
Coordinates the grant application writing process with staff taking the lead on project creation, analyzing feasibility, and identifying partners.
Other Duties
Prepares and generates maps and statistical data and the analysis of the data.
Compiles and prepares statistical data.
Provides support to economic development efforts.
Special assignments as issued by the JURA Executive Secretary/Director of Development.
Education and Experience
Qualified candidates for this position will have a Master’s Degree from an accredited college in urban planning, urban design, community planning or closely related field of study. American Institute of Certified Planner’s designation preferred.
Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in a municipal planning position is preferred as work experience.
Please send your resume/CV to:
Vincent DeJoy III, Director of Development
City of Jamestown
200 E. 3rd Street
Municipal Building—3rd Floor
Jamestown, New York 14701
716.483.7542
