Essentially, the Planning Department is one man that wears three different hats. I am one part Code Enforcement Office, one part Planner and one part Zoning Administrator. Rarely do I distinguish between the different hats, because most issues that I deal with on a daily basis require me to wear all three hats simultaneously. Listed below are the key elements of my job.

Code Enforcement: In the Planning Community, this element is often considered thankless and yet crucial to the perceived effectiveness of the Town Board. It is the responsibility of the Code Enforcement Officer, to ensure ordinances that are approved by the Town Board of Aldermen are applied and not ignored. Most code enforcement is initiated by citizen complaints. They contact the Town, alert the staff of a perceived problem and I investigate the complaint. Some complaints merit, taking action against; some are contrasts of neighborly perspective. Unfortunately, I am not as proactive in searching out violations as I would like to be, due to several constraints including time and manpower, however, I still make time to tour the Town looking for code violations.

Planning: This element is my favorite part of my position. It allows me to create and recommend planning policy improvements that will hopefully make Maggie Valley a better place to live. You see these proposed changes monthly at Town Board meetings in the form of Text Amendment changes. Each of these proposed text changes are the result of days of research and hours of drafting time before being sent to the Planning Board for their approval. Best-case scenarios have the Planning Board approve the text as written, but often slight adjustments are made before submitting the text to the Town Board. Long-term projects such as a Land Use Plan, Hill Side/Slope Development Ordinance and Unified Development Ordinance are projects that I am continually working towards completing. These issues are extremely complex, the amount of time and outside resources required to complete them are substantial.

Zoning: A majority of my day is spent on zoning related issues. Development in Maggie Valley has reached a historic level, and that brings developers, real estate agents, homeowners and business owners to my door; all with questions about what they can and cannot do. This element allows me to gain very personal knowledge of what is happening in the Valley today and what will be in store for the Valley down the road. Most of the questions that I receive are basic and can be explained in a short conversation. Other questions are more complex and need multiple conversations to occur before an answer is given. These issues relate mainly to developers interested in major subdivisions and those interested in developing along the creeks.

Driving Miss Maggie (web page)
A Comprehensive Plan for Growth and Change. Adopted Sept. 2004
DrivingMissMaggie.htm

Needs Assessment (web page)
needsAssessment.htm

Strategic Plan (web page)
for implementing Driving Miss Maggie
strategicPlan.htm

New Planning Fee Schedule (web page)
Planning Fee Schedule FY06-07 Approved 062105.htm

Planning Board Agenda Request (PDF)
agendarequest.pdf

Zoning Board Agenda Request (PDF)
agendarequestform.pdf