City prepares to hire planning director

About 30 residents assembled at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex on Feb. 15 for the opportunity to meet the person who will oversee long-term planning in the city.

Last week, the city went through the final phases of reviewing candidates for the newly created position of planning director. In addition to the public open house, the process included group interviews with residents, advisory board members and city staff.

City Manager Tom Barwin said the city is in a process of making an offer to a candidate and hopes to have somebody in place within the next month. The salary range for the position is between $95,500 and $159,486 annually.

“We used an extensive process, because the planning director is very much involved with the community,” Barwin said. “We want to be sure to get the best possible fit — someone who meets our needs, and somebody who would be excited working in a place like Sarasota.”

During last year’s budget process, the City Commission approved the creation of the planning director position. The city’s planning department was eliminated in 2008 amid budget cutbacks. The hiring of a planning director will also divide the Department of Neighborhood and Development Services into two sectors: one focused on long-term city planning, the other on building and code compliance.

“Planning used to be a whole different department with many, many more bodies,” said Tim Litchet, the city’s director of Neighborhood and Development Services.

All four candidates for the position have experience in a senior municipal-planning role and a master’s degree in planning or architecture. The candidates are all from out of state, though Susan Swift formerly worked for the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Barwin highlighted several major ongoing planning efforts as top priorities for the new director. They include the implementation of the forthcoming citywide form-based zoning code, the creation of a proactive transportation plan and the redevelopment of 42 acres surrounding the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

“We’re looking for a director that can contribute positively to that dialogue, appreciate architecture, parks and neighborhoods and really start to fine-tune the community around what’s happening moving into the future,” Barwin said.