Paul Soudi

Urban Planner/Designer - Independent Consulting

Villa Rica, GA 30180

acyb10@r.postjobfree.com - 770-***-****

To secure a permanent position that will utilize my broad and extensive planning, architectural, economic development, and project management skills and lead to advancement of my career while involving with planning and/or management activities of a development agency in an urbanized area. Willing to relocate: Anywhere

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

WORK EXPERIENCE

Planning Director

Decatur County - Bainbridge, GA - April 2007 to April 2012 Responsibilities included managing, directing and supervising planning, zoning, building, and code enforcement activities. Participating in preparation of the county’s comprehensive plan, solid waste management plan, service delivery strategy, short-term work program, and watershed protection plan as well as assisting production of comprehensive plans of the county’s incorporated areas; developing land use, economic, and environmental policies, and ensuring public involvement in the process. Additional responsibilities involved administering the county’s subdivision ordinance, drafting new ordinances and amendments, supervision in enforcement of the existing ordinances and building code, developing rules & procedures for Planning Board, administering appeal cases, and serving as Secretary of the Planning Board. Administering the county’s land development and construction regulations and land development permits, providing information to lawyers, engineers, surveyors, real estate brokers, and the members of public on County policies; Supervising the work of departmental personnel, preparing the departmental budget, and monitoring expenditures under the current budget; Facilitating the economic development of the county, monitoring planning activities related to the incorporated areas of the county and overseeing annexation and Development of Regional Impact (DRI) processes and their consistencies with the County’s Comprehensive Plan, and meeting with the public officials of the incorporated areas regarding annexations, and directing departmental budgetary and management.

Reviewing preliminary and final subdivision plat cases and processing the cases through the Planning Board and County Commission, or administratively; Coordinating the acquisition of rights-of-way for the county with Road Department, recording final plats, deeds, and easements. Managing the grant acquisition process and providing information for preparing applications. Performing other related duties as assigned. Planning & Zoning Manager

City of Hapeville - Hapeville, GA - November 2004 to July 2005 Supervised production of comprehensive plan 2005 and managed day to day operation of Planning & Zoning Department plus developing strategies for economic development of the City. Reviewed rezoning, variance, subdivision, and mixed-use applications and complex development proposals to assure their consistency with the City, state and federal regulations. Prepared reports and made recommendations to Planning Commission, Board of Appeals, and City Council. Attended the Design Review Committee to insure conformity of the City's development activities with the City's Architectural Guidelines ordinance. Supervised code enforcement officers and reviewed sign and business license applications. Coordinated planning activities of the City with Fulton County and Atlanta Regional Commission.

Community Development Director

City of Villa Rica - Villa Rica, GA - September 1996 to March 2004 Responsibilities

Responsibilities included directing and managing a variety of on-going programs and special projects, coordinated with City Manager, City Attorney, City staff, and other government agencies and private sector. Insured compliance of development activities in the areas of floodplain and wetland with local municipality’s regulations, as well as state government laws including the DNR and EPD (Part V). Conducted research, compiling and analyzing information, initiating and coordinating activities related to program management. Conducted special studies, collected data for developing policies pertinent to future land use, annexation, land development, zoning, growth trends, and developing standards. Updated Future Land Use Map, Zoning map, Comprehensive Plan, Short Term Work Program, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Mixed Use Planned Development Ordinance, Solid Waste Management Plan, and all the other ordinances and recommend amendments and modifications.

Participated in steering committees for preparing comprehensive plans, economic development plans, and watershed protection plans in the regional level. Coordinated land use policies with the county governments, and develop strategies for land use dispute resolution in compliance with H.B. 489. Coordinated entering the City in Greenspace Program to receive grants for preservation, expansion, and securing greenspaces in the City. Defended and protected the City’s interests in land use disputes and coordinated arbitration sessions for enforcement of the dispute resolution, when there were land use differences with the neighboring county in annexation cases.

Prepared ordinances and ordinance amendments, such as density regulations, Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance, sign ordinance, Watershed Protection Ordinance, and etc., when requested by City Manager, City Councilmembers, Planning Commissioners, and state government officials. Evaluated existing policies, conducted research, and proposed new policies. Composed written reports and conducted public presentation of the reports reflecting a consensus of goals and objectives of the governing authority body, Planning Commissioners, RDC officials, City Manager, City Attorney, and City consultants. Administered provisions of City ordinances such as Zoning, Subdivision, Mixed Use Planned Development, Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control, Business License, Alcohol, and all other City ordinances and codes. Answered inquiries via telephone, mail, email, and in person to developers, engineers, architects, builders, contractors, and general public in articulating zoning regulations and intent of Zoning Ordinance. Directed land development activities for residential, commercial, and mixed use developments and the process of reviewing the projects, starting from conducting pre-submittal meetings with developers to coordinating review of site construction plans and review of preliminary & final plat maps with property owners, developers and consulting engineers to issuance of certificate of occupancy to assure the conditions of approval are met. Provided land use data to engineers for water & sewer modeling and coordinated planning activities with the planning consultants.

Coordinated Planning & Zoning Commission hearings and prepared meeting agendas, packets, minutes, and serving as Planning Commission Secretary. Arranged Commissioner’s and Council Member’s training workshops and provided them assistance in carrying out their responsibilities, in compliance with Zoning Procedure Laws, state and federal laws, and City regulations. Attended in pre-submittal meetings with developers, consultants, legal advisors, real estate brokers, City staff, Preliminary Review Board, and others as necessary to provide them information about development activities for impact assessments. Reviewed applications, justifications, and other materials submitted by applicants requesting conditional use permit, variance, administrative variance, special exceptions, and etc. and processed them accordingly. Trained subordinates and interns and assign them special tasks. Reviewed building permit applications and site plans for conformity with Zoning Ordinance and development regulations and followed them up, to assure that the conditions of approval were met prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy. Monitored alcohol permits and assured their consistency with City and state laws. Coordinated the Census 2000 headcount for the City. Urban Planner/Designer

Independent Consulting - 1992 to June 1996

Consulted developers regarding development proposals and feasibility of their projects and assisted them in preparing development packages. Conducting survey and research to collect technical design data for formulation of architectural guidelines and field inspection for assessment of architectural inventory, and analyzed data to identify strength and weaknesses. Attending in committees for setting planning strategies and preparing architectural guideline and design regulations pertinent to site planning, building orientation, building design, massing & scale, parking, and landscaping. Proposing new pedestrian and vehicular circulation network, to abate existing circulation inefficiencies. Developing specific building design regulations regarding façade design, building materials and color, signage & banners, and proposing incentives for providing interparcel connections. Managing design, and supervision of residential and commercial projects for various clients. From 1992 to September of 1996, and March 10, 2004, to November 10, 2004. Project Manager

The SW Group - Los Angeles, CA - January 1990 to January 1991 The SW Group - Land Planning & Consulting/Engineering Firm Managed development projects and insured their consistency with the City of Los Angeles General Plan, Municipal Zoning Code, and applicable ordinances for receiving approval through discretionary actions. Assigned subordinates for project works and supervised production of conceptual land use plans and City- required documents through submittal of vesting and tract/parcel maps, parcel map exemption, variance, zone change, condominium conversion, private street,, and street improvement plans. Prepared complex planning reports and required documents, in justifying variance, zone change, and other development procedures. Gathered information concerning City infrastructure and environmental conditions for planning purposes and assessed fees and created zoning files. Processed final maps and assured their compliance with conditions of approval. Conducted field survey to obtain information regarding on-site/off-site conditions of properties and collected data about structures, vegetation, and land use of the neighborhoods. Coordinated project works with clients, architects, lawyers, City officials, real estate specialists, construction managers, and other professionals. Prepared condominium plans and other required documents for Department of Real Estate

(DRE). Attended public hearings to represent clients and presented projects. Trained subordinates. Assistant Planner

City of Hermosa Beach - May 1989 to January 1990

Reviewed development proposals in conformity with Hermosa Beach General Plan, Municipal Zoning Code, California Planning Law, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and California Coastal Commission regulations. Evaluated prospects for rezoning sites, using General Plan and Land Use ordinances. Composed analyses and prepared staff reports, resolutions, and initial environmental assessments for Planning Commission. Made recommendations and provided alternatives for decision-makers and proposed conditions of approval, based on evaluation of applications. Visited proposed development sites to assure compatibility of land use proposals with surroundings. Enforced zoning regulations and provisions of conditional use permit, variance, zone change, parking plan, subdivision of land and air, lot merger, and parcel/tract map. Distributed case information between various City departments and incorporating their comments in staff reports. Received applications, justifications, and other documents from applicants requesting conditional use permit, variance, and etc. Collected and compiled data and prepared General Plan and Land Use maps. Investigated citizen complaints for zoning violations and cited violators. Prepared and documented drafts, memorandums, reports and general correspondence concerning Conditional Use Permit, and other zoning procedures. Participated in preparation of studies for new City regulations regarding physical conditions in a particular geographic area and assisted in development of new policies. Coordinated confrontation activities with other City Departments against zoning violators to be cited and prosecuted in courts. May 30, 1989 to January 16, 1990.

Planning Aide

City of Simi Valley - Simi Valley, CA - December 1987 to May 1989 Provided assistance to planners in collection of data to be used for development of technical reports regarding commercial, industrial, and residential development proposals in conformity with the City of Simi Valley General Plan, Zoning Code, and other applicable City and state regulations. Prepared notice of public hearing for adjoining property owners, as well as general public, and assured its consistency with public notification requirements. Helped public in interpreting zoning standards and Development Code for submittal of development proposals. Distributed case information to various City and county departments and school district for their comments and planning purposes. Attended public hearings and made presentations to Planning Commission, Staff Hearing, Preliminary Review Board, and intergovernmental committees. Processed projects and landscape plans and field inspected them for assurance in consistency with conditions of approval and other regulations for obtaining certificate of occupancy. Issued Zone Clearance, Sign Permit, Tenant Improvement Permit, and Business License at the counter. Conducted survey and research to collect technical data in preparation of the City's new ordinances for advance planning. Participated in the research and development of the City's urban design guidelines. December 7, 1987 to May 19, 1989 EDUCATION

MS (Thesis Pending) in City & Regional Planning

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, CA 1985 to 1987

MS in Architecture & Urban Design

National University of Iran

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