Land Planner Responsibilities

The land planner is a professional who is engaged in providing quality services, wherein the quality of life where the people are going to live will be improved. The land planner responsibilities are significant in retaining a sustainable work environment and in creating a high quality lifestyle. He/she is responsible for executing all the associated legal duties and ensuring that all the responsibilities are carried out in compliance with the assigned rules and regulations. To get a better understanding of what exactly are the responsibilities of the land planner, here are few points that will help you in providing the necessary guidelines.

Key Responsibilities of a Land Planner

The land planner's responsibilities basically focus on conducting proper analysis, inspecting the land, and ensuring that the designing concepts and all the site plans and specifications are met, meeting with clients to understand their requirements and compiling the relevant data. The land planner may be associated with either a new project or adding a new neighborhood. These professionals help in managing a variety of projects, right from the basic planning stages to their completion. The following points mentioned below will help you in giving a better idea as to what exactly are the key responsibilities that need to be handled by a land planner:

1. To discuss in detail the key requirements of the clients' project and get a basic understanding of the overall program
2. To meet with the developers, public officials, etc., to discuss the developmental plans and how to make its effective use
3. To gather and compile all the data and information based on the environmental study and to analyze and research the economic reports conducted on the same
4. To ensure that the land has been inspected properly and to review the plans that have been created by the developers and review it in detail
5. To make sure that all the plans that have been created are in compliance with the given specifications and to make sure that the quality of work and that of the materials used in this process have been maintained
6. To provide guidance and advise the clients and the personnel involved in the project to help them in preparing the drawings of the proposed plans

In addition to the above mentioned responsibilities, the land planner looks out for new opportunities by giving presentations, writing proposals, or by using various marketing techniques. He/she should be able to mediate effective conversations among groups who have opposing views and carries out the essential duty of assisting in developing consensus. He/she deeply researches the information that has been requested and analyzes the data to discover if there are any discrepancies. He/she drafts detailed information reports and helps in preparing, drafting, and writing the legal documents like contracts, ordinance amendments, resolutions, etc.

He/she is accountable for answering the questions and providing valuable assistance to the citizens and speaking on behalf of them at various commissions, boards, etc. He/she needs to be particular in ensuring that all the policy codes, standards, etc., have been adhered to and provides the necessary technical advice. He/she develops short term and long term plans, provides technical advice, and conducts field visits to verify the accuracy of the data. He/she maintains all the records related to the project, makes recommendations and monitors the expenditures. He/she makes effective use of computers to modify the computer models as well as the statistical packages for the planning application.

Essential Skills

To ensure success as a land planner, an individual must have the right combination of knowledge, abilities, and skills to be able to carry out the assigned responsibilities effectively. Some of the most essential skills are as follows:

• He/she should have thorough knowledge of principles of planning, its techniques, and knowledge of federal and state laws pertaining to it.
• He/she should be skilled in written and oral communication skills and should be able to prioritize work while handling multiple tasks.
• He/she should be skilled in organizing and planning and should be able to compile all the relevant information and assist in tabulating and analyzing the demographic statistics.
• He/she should keep himself/herself abreast with the current knowledge and any other related updates in procedural, ordinance, and any other changes in job practices.
• He/she should be comfortable working in an environment which involves frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
• He/she should be able to maintain good professional working relationships with all the associated professionals.

Educational Background

The basic eligibility criteria to qualify for the post of a land planner is that an individual should have completed at least a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from an accredited program. Those with a master's degree in planning with relevant work experience will definitely have brighter chances of getting the desired job. Individuals with a background in geography, social science, economics, etc., may also qualify for that particular position. A certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners will definitely prove to be an edge.

Work Schedule

The work of this professional normally starts at eight in the morning and ends at five in the evening. On some occasions, he/she may be required to work early in the mornings or may sometimes need to extend beyond the routine schedule. Depending on the business needs, he/she may be required to work overtime on the weekends or public holidays as well.

Salary Details

The median average salary offered for a land planner is $55,000. The individuals who have just entered this field recently can get a minimum starting remuneration up to $37,000, whereas those with higher qualifications and experience can get it in the range of $66,000. However, this is only a general idea and may vary depending on the location, experience, skills, and educational background that an individual has.

Career Prospects

There has been a tremendous increase in population in the recent years and with the growing trend to protect the environment, the employment opportunities for land planners are bound to rise by about sixteen percent, and the job prospects really look promising. Those with advanced qualifications will definitely rise to higher positions.

Thus, to become a complete professional and ensure a rewarding career ahead, the land planner responsibilities must be shouldered efficiently.