Shoreline Planning Director Leaving in January

After six years as Shoreline's Planning Director, Joe Tovar is stepping down Jan. 16.

Tovar said he does not have a job lined up yet.

When asked why he is leaving, Tovar said, "because it's time."

"I think I planned to move on, but it's sooner than I expected. It’s good for everyone concerned," he said.

City manager Julie Underwood did not ask for Tovar's resignation, city analyst Eric Bratton said.

She issued the following statement to city employees:

"Joe Tovar, the City’s Planning Director, will be leaving City employment.  His last day will be January 16, 2012.  Over the coming weeks, Joe and I will work on a transition plan. 

Since 2005, Joe has made a significant impact on our planning efforts across the City.  He has lead the development of the Town Center Subarea Plan, the Point Wells Subarea Plan, the Aldercrest Subarea Plans, the Environmental Sustainability and Comprehensive Housing Strategies, the Crista Master Plan, implemented changes to streamline the zoning code, and oversaw the communitywide development of the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement.  These are but a few of his accomplishments as Planning Director."

Most notably this year, Tovar has been a key figure for the city as it faces the potential consequences of Blue Square Real Estate's Point Wells project which proposes building 3,100 condos to be accessed by the two-lane Richmond Beach Drive.

Tovar worked with the Planning Commission and City Council as they amended the Point Wells Subarea Plan to redefine Richmond Beach Drive as a local street capable of handling 4,000 car trips a day from a collector arterial which could handle more than 8,000.

Tovar said his main overall accomplishment was, "cultivating an understanding for good planning. And adopting a vision for the growth of the community."

Shoreline's vision for the future includes incorporating economic development, a housing strategy and environmental sustainability as goals.

That vision came out of 18 community meetings and three forums in 2009 that involved as many as 5,000 people, Tovar said. The vision for 2030 goes along with the update for the city's comprehensive plan. 

He also mentioned his work on Shoreline's Town Center area which awaits development, the Aldercrest area which has a plan in place for a park and development now and a sustainability strategy for the city.