James City County has hired Paul Holt III, a former James City planner and current Planning Director for Portsmouth, to fill the role of Planning Director.
Former Planning Director Allen Murphy was named Director of Development Management in May, and has been serving in both capacities since November 2011. Holt will report to Murphy, and he will supervise a planning staff of 10 people.
Holt has served as Portsmouth’s Planning Director since 2011, and from 2008 until then he was the Deputy City Manager. He has an extensive background in comprehensive and current planning that includes transportation, land use regulation, public engagement, master planning and historic preservation, according to a James City County press release. Holt was a senior planner for James City County from 1996 to 2003.
“We are pleased to have an opportunity to bring someone back to the County with such breadth and depth of experience,” says Murphy and added, “James City County will benefit from his leadership experience and expertise.”
After leaving James City County, Holt worked for the City of Richmond as Utilities Planning Manager and as Interim Director of Public Utilities. In his last year, he was named Principal Planner and supervised land use planning functions including rezonings, use permits, site plans and subdivisions for the city.
Holt has a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University. He has participated in several Leadership Development courses sponsored by the Weldon Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia and the Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Holt has certifications from the American Institute of Certified Planners, FEMA and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
