Melanie Jackson
Sun Valley,NV
Summary
Productive professional with outstanding skills and experience in reviewing comprehensive development projects looking to change career field. Proficient in designing presentations, compiling reports, collecting data, analyzing information and delivering objective-driven proposals. Devoted to creating eye-catching graphics to immerse audiences in project details. Presently working to obtain certificates in digital marketing and front end web design. Strong transferable skills from Planning career including excellent written and verbal communication skills, research and analysis, problem solving, presentation preparation and execution and strong customer service skills.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Planner
City Of Reno
05.2022 - 03.2023
- Assisted developers, general public, and stakeholders with walk-in and telephone inquiries regarding land development and zoning policies and procedures;
- Reviewed inquiries relating to policies, regulations and zoning ordinances;
- Assisted applicants in modifying proposals in compliance with City standards;
- Communicated with stakeholders to provide information about applications, processes, and requirements;
- Responded to public inquiries in courteous manner;
- Resolved complaints in efficient and timely manner;
- Attended and participated in professional group meetings;
- Developed and recommended alternatives to resolve planning problems and accomplish planning objectives;
- Analyzed requests for master plan amendments, zoning map amendments, conditional use permits, tentative and final subdivision maps and variances;
- Reviewed requests in relation to applicable portions of state statutes, policies and City ordinances;
- Communicated with developers and conveyed policies on development related matters;
- Evaluated and made recommendations regarding applications for administrative variances, boundary line adjustments, parcel maps and reversion to acreage maps.
Planner 2
County Of Napa
06.2020 - 04.2022
- Prepared necessary documents required for complex or large development or research projects, general plan amendments, zoning and ordinance revisions;
- Provided technical information and policy interpretations regarding zoning ordinances, legislation and County regulations to public, contractors and other County staff;
- Conducted research, compiled and analyzed potential project environmental/ecological and economic aspects of varying degree of complexity; prepared and/or coordinated preparation of environmental documents [California Environmental Quality Act negative declarations (ND) and mitigated negative declarations (MND)];
- Prepared staff reports, made findings, prepared conditions of approval and presented information on projects to hearing bodies for their consideration for approval or denial of project;
- Coordinated consolidated efforts with other County departments and land use agencies to ensure soil erosion, water supply, sensitive habitats/resources, historical preserves and public interests are represented when large, complex or controversial developmental plans are reviewed, approved and implemented;
- Familiarized and had understanding of general principles, practices and theories of land use planning, general plan development, zoning ordinance development, local regulations and code compliance and monitoring mechanisms;
- Familiarized and had understanding of procedural requirements of CEQA, California Subdivision Map Act and other state and federal regulations that directly related to rural and urban planning;
- Utilized GIS and graphic software to conduct analyses and produced mapping of potential environmental impacts of proposed large or complex development activities;
- Ensured all resource data and GIS data layers were updated with current information relative to planning matters for specific projects.
Senior Planner
County Of Santa Barbara
12.2018 - 04.2020
- Reviewed applications to determine legal submission requirements were met and determined potential significant environmental impacts of proposals;
- Studied supportive materials necessary for initial environmental assessments of projects and analyzed projects in conjunction with environmental documents to determine consistency with adopted State and County goals, policies, plans, and ordinances.
- Reviewed technical analyses and documents. Reviewed comments from public and County departmental staff;
- Prepared project reports with analysis and comments for public distribution; state environmental impacts and recommendations for mitigation measures and disposition of projects;
- Made oral presentations of reports before decision-making bodies;
- Conferred with County staff to ensure compliance with conditions of approval and proper implementation of project;
- Researched land use, transportation requirements, community design, resource constraints, environmental thresholds, and other development or environmental issues; analyzed data to compile reports on development policies; computed descriptive statistics from data to incorporate in reports; interpreted adopted State and County policies, guidelines, ordinances, and zoning regulations for public. Compiled, developed, and indexed wide variety of environmental resource data using computerized data base;
- Assigned work to and provided training to entry level planning staff; responded to questions related to general processes and specific applications; reviewed and edited staff reports and recommendations.
Associate Planner
Placer County
05.2007 - 10.2018
- Reviewed and evaluated public and private, major and minor land use applications (such as variances, conditional use permits, major and minor subdivisions, design/architectural review, minor lot line adjustments and others) submitted by developers, property owners, architects, contractors, etc. for compliance with various local, state and federal requirements; processed applications of limited scope and complexity through public hearing process;
- Conducted research, performed analysis and integrated completed work into reports and presentations including graphics, property layouts, geographical information, project exhibits, etc. and provided findings, analysis and recommendations to hearing bodies;
- Participated in production of major planning documents such as zoning text amendments and amendments to various community plans;
- Attended neighborhood and other community meetings to provide information about County and County projects;
- Coordinated with applicants and/or their representatives, County staff and public to discuss existing or proposed projects;
- Provided information on land use and City codes and ordinances at permit counter, over phone and by email and responded to planning related inquiries;
- Interpreted land use and zoning regulations to maintain compliance with development regulations. Attended neighborhood and other community meetings to provide information and represent County.
Education
Certificate - Digital Marketing
Google Digital Marketing Certificate
Online05.2023
Certificate - Front End Web Design
Meta Front End Web Designer
Online05.2023
J.D. - Law
Lincoln Law School of Sacramento
Sacramento, CA05.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Studies
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA05.2003
Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Research, Competitive Research
- Problem Solving
- Microsoft Office
- SEO and SEM Strategies
- Customer Needs Assessments
- Computer Proficiency
- Social Media Content Creation
- Campaign Optimization
- Google Analytics
Timeline
Assistant Planner
City Of Reno
05.2022 - 03.2023
Planner 2
County Of Napa
06.2020 - 04.2022
Senior Planner
County Of Santa Barbara
12.2018 - 04.2020
Associate Planner
Placer County
05.2007 - 10.2018
Certificate - Digital Marketing
Google Digital Marketing Certificate
Certificate - Front End Web Design
Meta Front End Web Designer
J.D. - Law
Lincoln Law School of Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Studies
Sonoma State University