John Olson, AICP

Experience

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  City of Sioux Falls

  Jun 2000 - Aug 2000

  Historic Preservation Intern

  Surveyed and wrote architectural descriptions of 150 homes; helping to create a new historic district, which was designated in 2004.

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  City of Cuenca, Ecuador

  Jan 2002 - Mar 2002

  Study Abroad Architectural Intern

  Worked on revitalizing plazas to make them attractive community gathering spaces. The projects included designing appropriate benches, lighting, landscaping, playgrounds and pathways.

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  Koch Hazard Architects

  Sept 2003 - Feb 2004

  Architectural Intern

  Worked on designs and master plans for projects in Eastern South Dakota. Projects included work on the Dakota State Master Plan, Chemistry and Pharmacy addition at the University of South Dakota and University of Sioux Falls Master Plan.Worked with AutoCAD and Photoshop to complete site plan and elevation drawings.

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  University of Kansas

  Sept 2004 - May 2006

  Planning Intern

  Created maps using ArcView GIS 9.0 for a land conservation project in Douglas County, Kansas toprotect environmentally sensitive areas from harmful development.Mapped easements, made presentations and conducted field studies.

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  Town of Castle

  Jul 2006 - Jun 2009

  Long-range Planner/Planner I

  Took on an active role in the review of various land-use applications, which involved preparing staff reports and presenting planning items to city boards and commissions. Conducted plan and design review on general site plans and PD site plans in accordance with Town codes and guidelines. Produced 2 and 3D graphics, maps, and brochures for Town projects and staff reports. In terms of long-range Planning, I assisted in the development of the Castle Rock Downtown Plan, Historic Preservation Plan, and the Southwest Quadrant (sub-area) Plan, including public outreach, formatting, graphic design and implementation. I also produced road section drawings for the Town's form-based code initiative. As the lead staff member to the Historic Preservation Board, I managed, processed and presented various Historic Preservation land-use applications to the Historic Preservation Board including design review, landmark designation requests, landmark alteration certificates, demolition review, tax credits, local grants and structure relocation. Additionally, I was involved in the creation and implementation of a design assistance and local restoration program for historic buildings within the Town of Castle Rock. Finally, I had a lead involvement in the comprehensive update of Castle Rock’s 25-year-old Historic Preservation Ordinance. Show less

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  Town of Mountain Village

  Feb 2010 - Jan 2012

  Planner I

  Provided assistance to applicants on matters relating to planning, design, zoning, permit review and other town standards and regulations. With my design background, I created, wrote and formatted Mountain Village Plaza Use Design Standards.

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  City of Chamblee, GA

  Mar 2012 - Sept 2012

  Senior Planner

  Reviewed requests for variances, rezonings and other activities related to zoning and code compliance. As planner of the day, responded to phone calls and customer inquiries at the front counter. In addition, I facilitated public meetings and workshops to obtain and disseminate information.

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  Newton County

  Oct 2012 - Apr 2013

  Zoning Administrator

  Lead staff member to the administration of design, planning and zoning related matters within Newton County, GA.

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  Clark Patterson Lee/ City of Brookhaven

  Mar 2013 - Nov 2015

  Urban Planner

  As a planner, I was involved in municipal start-up operations to create one of DeKalb County's newest city's called Brookhaven. As a city planner, I administered the acceptance and review of planning and zoning related requests such as rezonings, variances, special land use permits and prepared staff reports to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Commission and City Council regarding such applications. I reviewed building permits, sign permits, land disturbance permits, preliminary plats and final plats for compliance with City's zoning and development standards. I conferred with and provided information to property owners, real estate brokers, contractors, developers, engineers, architects and the public regarding conformance to standards, plans specifications and the Brookhaven Zoning Ordinance. I performed field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development project(s) comply with approved plans. As planner of the day, I acted as a point of contact for owners, developers, contractors and homeowners interested in developing or doing work within the City. As a plan review coordinator, I reviewed, and also distributed building permit and demolition reviews among the Development review team. Show less

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  APD Urban Planning & Management, LLC

  Nov 2015 - Apr 2016

  Planner II

  My work at APD was focused around planning and revitalization strategies to improve blighted neighborhoods throughout the southeast. I worked with communities and organizations to plan, design, and build urban revitalization projects and created detailed land use, and design documents to help to improve the quality of future development.

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  CPL

  Apr 2016 - Jan 2022

  Planning Manager, Community Development Department

  Involved in the development, review and coordination of array of planning and zoning projects. Typical functions of this role have included:Facilitation of Comprehensive Plan and master plan updates;Writing and implementing text amendments to zoning codes, including urban design standards for the City of Dunwoody;Management of large-scale development proposals involving rezonings, variances, and special land use permits;Design and building permit review;Review of platting, and subdivisions related matters;Presenter to various councils, boards, commissions and elected officials on planning-related issues; and staff report preparation; Show less

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  4j's properties LLC

  Feb 2021 - now

  Real Estate Business Owner