Department of Planning

Jacob W. Trimble, AICP, Acting Director

ADOPTED FY23 BUDGET

$970,461

Department Mission

FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS

11.4

The mission of the Department of Planning is to foster healthy communities by guiding development and reinvestment, developing long‐range plans, promoting citizen engagement, and using data and information technology to guide public policy.

Budget Overview

The 2023 adopted budget for the Department of Planning is $970,641, a decrease of $1,266,587 or 56.6 percent from the 2022 adjusted budget of $2,237,048. Personnel costs comprise 86.8 percent of the budget for 14 positions (11.4 full time equivalents). Operating expenses account for the 13.2 percent of the budget.

Significant Changes

The 2023 adopted budget does not include one‐time funding of $1 million that was allocated for a comprehensive land use plan in 2022.

The County Council increased the Planning Department’s budget by $2,247 (0.2%) compared to the County Executive’s recommendation due to an increase in the retirement fringe benefit rate.

Core Business Functions

The Department of Planning is responsible for the management of:

→ Administering the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances

→ Preparing community plans, small area studies, and other small geography planning documents

→ Preparing the County’s Comprehensive Plan and guiding its implementation

→ Monitoring annexations and municipal boundary changes throughout the County

→ Processing petitions for changes in zoning and other special procedures as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance

→ Site Development Plan and Subdivision Plat review

→ Staffing of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment

→ Subdivision and land disturbance escrow management

→ Home day care licensing

→ Outreach and planning in targeted communities

→ Serves as the county’s liaison to the Boundary Commission

→ Responding to citizen inquiries