Department of Land Use and Transportation names new Planning and Development Services Manager

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 17, 2012

Andrew Singelakis, Director of Washington County’s Department of Land Use and Transportation, announces the appointment of Andy Back as Planning and Development Services Manager effective January 2, 2013. “Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and critical insight to this key role on our management team,” said Singelakis. Back joined the department in 1991 as a Senior Planner. He was promoted to Principal Planner in 1999, and has served as Interim Long Range Planning Manager since May 2012. Back holds Bachelors degrees in Economics and Geography from U.C. Santa Barbara and a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Back will lead the department’s new Planning and Development Services division, which merges two former divisions: Long Range Planning and Development Services. This merger unifies the department’s countywide transportation planning and land use planning coordination functions with the community planning, development review, building permitting and inspections (structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical) and code compliance functions the department provides in urban unincorporated and rural areas of Washington County.

“Bringing these programs under one manager will improve continuity for our customers as they navigate the entire land use planning and development process. This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve our customer experience,” said Singelakis. “The consolidation will also allow us to make more efficient use of our resources.”

Background:

Washington County’s Department of Land Use and Transportation is responsible for a wide range of transportation, planning, permitting and road maintenance services. The department is supported by an annual budget of approximately $200 million and is staffed by approximately 295 employees. The department has four divisions:

• Administrative Services
• Engineering and Construction Services
• Operations and Maintenance
• Planning and Development Services

Washington County is committed to planning and protecting the uses of the land and to building and maintaining the best transportation system--balancing care for the natural environment, economic development, safety and community livability.

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