Which of the following is usually the direct responsibility of the planning director, rather than...

A planning director’s role typically includes responsibilities directly related to land use, development, and environmental planning, such as floodplain management, which involves zoning, permitting, and ensuring development complies with flood regulations. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Administration and Management,” lists “floodplain management” as a core responsibility of planning directors, as it falls within their purview of regulating land use and development. In contrast, a city manager oversees broadermunicipal operations, including economic development (A: job growth/decline), financial management (C: property tax rates), and overall strategic planning (D: strategic goal setting). TheCPC Study Manual(2024) notes that “planning directors are responsible for managing land use policies, including floodplain management,” while city managers handle fiscal and administrative duties like tax rates and economic strategies. Thus, option B is the correct answer.