PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 2, art. VII, div. 23

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1015 Planning department established.

Sec. 2-1015. - Planning department established. (a) The planning department is hereby established. The planning department, in accordance with applicable laws, provides for the orderly growth, development and redevelopment of the city through the development and implementation of comprehensive and master plans, and planning initiatives and priorities; administers and enforces the planning laws of the city, including the zoning and subdivision regulations; and provides support for municipal planning bodies, including the planning commission and board of zoning adjustment, in the performance of their statutory duties established pursuant to state planning, zoning and subdivision enabling legislation. (b) The planning department shall be under the general supervision and control of the director of planning, who may also be referred to as the planning director. The planning director, whose qualifications are established by the mayor, shall be appointed by the mayor subject to the approval of the city council as provided by law. The planning director shall hold office for the term of the mayor making the appointment. The planning director shall be under the direct supervision and control of the director of economic and urban development. The planning department provides staff support for the planning commission in performance of the duties outlined in Code of Ala. 1975, Tit. 11, Ch. 52, with respect to planning, zoning, and subdivision regulations. Generally, the planning director shall be available to the councilmembers to respond to requests for information or questions related to matters under the general control of the planning director pertinent to the performance of a councilmember's duties. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1016 Duties of the director of planning.

Sec. 2-1016. - Duties of the director of planning. The duties of the planning director, which shall be performed in accordance with applicable laws, include the following: (1) Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the planning department; supervises and participates in the preparation of comprehensive reports based upon careful research and study of planning problems. (2) Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of professional, technical, and clerical personnel engaged in the compilation, analysis, and interpretation of data affecting planning. (3) Supervises the managers of urban and long-range planning, planning and zoning services, and geographic information services; ensures constant communication, coordination, and collaboration between the divisions of the department. (4) Directs maintenance and revision of the city's master plan, small area planning products, zoning ordinances, and other planning documents necessary for the management of the city's planning and development programs. (5) Serves as a technical advisor to the planning commission on city planning and development matters; recommends projects and programs to be undertaken. (6) Monitors all activities of the metropolitan planning organization, ensuring effective administration of the organization's duties. (7) Advises and cooperates with city officials in connection with new or contemplated capital improvements; assists in prioritizing the development of infrastructure necessary to sustain the growth and orderly functioning of the urban area. (8) Provides technical advice and investigation assistance for the board of zoning adjustment and other city boards/commissions as required. (9) Maintains liaison with governmental agencies and officials throughout the metropolitan area. (10) Prepares the annual budget for the department. (11) Performs related work as required and performs any and all duties that may be required of him by ordinance or resolution. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1020 Planning and zoning services division established.

Sec. 2-1020. - Planning and zoning services division established. (a) The planning and zoning services division is hereby established as a division of the planning department. The responsibilities of planning and zoning services division include administering and enforcing the planning laws of the city, including the zoning and subdivision regulations; and providing support for municipal planning bodies, including the planning commission and board of zoning adjustment, in the performance of their statutory duties established pursuant to state planning, zoning and subdivision enabling legislation. (b) The manager of planning and zoning services shall have the responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of the planning and zoning services division. The manager of planning and zoning services, whose qualifications are established by the mayor, shall be appointed by the mayor subject to the approval of the city council as provided by law. The manager of planning and zoning services shall hold office for the term of the mayor making the appointment. The manager of planning and zoning services shall be under the direct supervision and control of the director of planning. In the event of vacancy in the director of planning position, the manager of planning and zoning services shall perform the duties of department head for the division and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the director of economic and urban development. The planning and zoning services division provides staff support for the planning commission in performance of the duties outlined in Code of Ala. 1975, Tit. 11, Ch. 52, with respect to planning, zoning, and subdivision regulations. Generally, the manager of planning and zoning services shall be available to councilmembers to respond to requests for information or questions related to matters under his general control which are pertinent to the performance of a councilmember's duties. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1021 Duties of the manager of planning and zoning services.

Sec. 2-1021. - Duties of the manager of planning and zoning services. The duties of the manager of planning and zoning services, which shall be performed in accordance with applicable laws, include the following: (1) Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the planning and zoning services division; supervises and participates in the preparation of comprehensive reports based upon careful research and study of planning problems. (2) Plans, organizes and directs the activities of professional, technical and clerical personnel engaged in the compilation, analysis and interpretation of data affecting planning and zoning services. (3) Directs the development and updating of land use zoning regulations for adoption by the city council; prepares and revises zoning ordinances, zoning maps, and subdivision regulations; directs implementation of land use zoning regulations which include the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, adopted land use plans, and other elements and policies of the city's comprehensive plan. (4) Consults with public works engineering staff, architects, contractors, and individuals regarding land development and site development. (5) Serves as project supervisor for various planning and zoning services activities, projects, and plans. Manages consultant contracts. (6) Serves as technical advisor to the planning commission on city planning and development matters; recommends projects and programs to be undertaken. (7) Assists in implementation of the city's master plan and the coordination of the public interests with the private sector in enforcement of land development policies; coordinates with other departments in implementing the master plan and coordinates with research park manager to advance development of the research park. (8) Advises and coordinates with city officials in connection with new or contemplated capital improvements. (9) Provides technical advice and investigative assistance for the board of zoning adjustment. (10) Maintains liaison with governmental agencies and officials in the metropolitan area. (11) Makes oral and written presentations of strategies and recommendations to city council, boards, commissions, and public and private organizations; prepares various correspondence and reports regarding planning and zoning issues and policies. (12) Prepares the annual budget for the division. (13) Performs related work as required and performs any and all duties that may be required of him by ordinance or resolution. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1026 Urban and long-range planning division established.

Sec. 2-1026. - Urban and long-range planning division established. (a) The division of urban and long-range planning is hereby established as a division of the planning department. The responsibilities of the division of urban and long-range planning include the development and implementation of comprehensive and master plans, and planning initiatives and priorities. (b) The urban and long-range planning division shall be under the general supervision and control of the manager of urban and long-range planning. The manager of urban and long-range planning, whose qualifications are established by the mayor, shall be appointed by the mayor subject to the approval of the city council as provided by law. The manager of urban and long-range planning shall hold office for the term of the mayor making the appointment. The manager of urban and long-range planning shall be under the supervision and control of the director of planning. In the event of vacancy in the director of planning position, the manager of urban and long-range planning shall perform the duties of department head for the division and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the director of economic and urban development. Generally, the manager of urban and long-range planning shall be available to councilmembers to respond to requests for information or questions related to matters under the general control of the manager of urban and long-range planning which are pertinent to the performance of a councilmember's duties. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1027 Duties of the manager of urban and long-range planning.

Sec. 2-1027. - Duties of the manager of urban and long-range planning. The duties of the manager of urban and long planning, which shall be performed in accordance with applicable laws, include the following: (1) Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the urban and long-range planning division; supervises and participates in the preparation of comprehensive reports based upon careful research and study of planning problems. (2) Plans, organizes and directs the activities of professional, technical, and clerical personnel engaged in the compilation, analysis and interpretation of data affecting urban planning and development. (3) Serves as technical advisor to the planning commission on city planning and development matters, recommends projects and programs to be undertaken. (4) Serves as the transportation planning coordinator for the metropolitan planning organization. (5) Advises and cooperates with city officials in connection with new or contemplated capital improvements. (6) Maintains liaison with governmental agencies and officials in the metropolitan area. (7) Advises the public regarding long-range planning and/or land use regulations. Facilitates communication among interested individuals and groups with differing views on planning problems. (8) Serves as project supervisor for various urban and long-range planning activities, projects, and plans. Manages consultant contracts. (9) Coordinates transportation planning activities as related to federal highway administration urban area planning regulations, the 20-year highway plan, the 5-year transportation improvement plan, the planning commission major street plan, and the Huntsville urban area transportation computer model; manages and administers transportation grants; serve as staff liaison to regional metropolitan transportation planning organization. (10) Directs and coordinates the implementation of the city's master plan, and the coordination of the public interests with the private sector in the development and enforcement of land development policies; coordinates with other departments in implementing the city's recreation plan and other plans, assists in the development of industrial parks and with companies seeking to relocate to the city; coordinates with research park manager to develop the research park. (11) Directs the development and updating of land use zoning regulations for adoption by the city council, preparation and revision of zoning ordinances, zoning maps, and subdivision regulations; directs implementation of land use zoning regulations which include the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, adopted land use plans, and other elements and policies of the city's comprehensive plan. (12) Consults with public works engineering staff, architects, contractors, and individuals regarding land development and site development. (13) Plans, organizes, and schedules reviews, and evaluates the work of clerical, and professionals involved in preparation of studies, regulations, designs, plans and giant applications and other urban planning, long range planning and development related activities. (14) Makes oral and written presentations of strategies and recommendations to city council, boards, commissions, public and private organizations, prepares various correspondence and reports regarding urban and long-range planning issues and policies. (15) Prepares the annual budget for the division. (16) Performs related work as required and performs any and all duties that may be required of him by ordinance or resolution. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1035 Geographic information services division established.

Sec. 2-1035. - Geographic information services division established. The division of geographic information services is hereby established as a division of the planning department. The geographic information services division shall be under the general supervision and control of the manager of geographic information services. The manager of geographic information services, whose qualifications are established by the mayor, shall be appointed by the mayor subject to the approval of the city council as provided by law. The manager of geographic information services shall hold office for the term of the mayor making the appointment. The manager of geographic information services shall be under the supervision and control of the director of planning. In the event of vacancy in the director of planning position, the manager of geographic information services shall perform the duties of department head for the division and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the director of economic and urban development. Generally, the manager of geographic information services shall be available to councilmembers to respond to requests for information or questions related to matters under the general control of the manager of geographic information services which are pertinent to the performance of a councilmember's duties. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 2-1036 Duties of the manager of geographic information services.

Sec. 2-1036. - Duties of the manager of geographic information services. The duties of the manager of geographic information services, which shall be performed in accordance with applicable laws, include the following: (1) Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the activities of a division of the planning department; makes personnel management determinations to ensure division goals and objectives are met; trains, assigns, reviews, evaluates and provides technical assistance to the professional and technical staff; prioritizes projects, establishes schedules, selects project leaders and assigns staff to various projects. (2) Supervises installation and maintenance of operating systems, protocols, servers, workstations, plotters and related software; supervises and participates in development and/or purchase of new software/hardware systems, evaluation of software/hardware, and coordination of GIS internet web pages. Responsible for cloud services and storage. (3) Develops a comprehensive GIS tailored to planning and urban development criteria including creating, managing and maintaining multiple databases such as flood zones, land use, zoning, city limits, soils, hydrology, geology, topography, political districts, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and other infrastructure; supervising and managing the production of topographic, thematic and planimetric mapping; developing topology between map sets and geographic databases. (4) Plans, organizes, and budgets for the systematic updates of the city's base maps; distributes base maps to all city departments in electronic format; addresses special needs and means of data distribution such as palm computers, laptops or other hardware/software configurations. (5) Responsible for the creation and distribution of city addresses providing a unique and standardized address database to be used by all city departments. (6) Develops and maintains geo-spatial data in electronic formats suitable for download via the internet for developers, engineers, and the general public. (7) Develops and maintains a global position system (GPS) network to be used by surveyors for subdivision submittals, aerial mapping projects and engineering projects. Publishing GPS coordinates in print and internet webpages; providing GPS coordinates for federal and state permits. (8) Coordinating with other city departments, private engineers, architects, land developers and others in implementing city policies, procedures and transfers of electronic data; advises the public as to the information and databases via the GIS system; sets standards and policies concerning the release and/or sell of digital data. (9) Makes oral and written presentations to boards, commissions, public and private organizations, city council and/or other city administrative panels and divisions; prepares reports and correspondence regarding GIS technology, capabilities, and policy issues. (10) Supervises the production and distribution of technical graphics, cartographic work, and desktop publishing associated with the planning department including specifying particular hardware configurations and software packages. (11) Plans and controls the annual division budget; confers with planning department divisions in planning budget items and expenditures; supervises and directs budget expenditures. (12) Develops short- and long-range strategic plans for GIS development; recommends projects and programs to be undertaken; defines project requirements; supervises and writes proposals and specifications for plans; advises and coordinates with planning and urban development staff on matters related to GIS. (13) Supervises, trains, reviews, and evaluates the work of professional, para-professional, and technical staff; prioritizes divisional work activities through subordinate supervisors; manages day to day operation of GIS staff. (14) Serves as a contract manager for various professional service contracts performing services for GIS. (15) Performs related work as required and performs all duties that may be required of him by ordinance or resolution. (Ord. No. 23-322, § 1, 4-27-2023)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTVIIDEDEHEOTAPOF_DIV23PLDEFetched: 11/6/2026