After more than five years with Cottonwood Heights, Michael Black, the city's planning and economic development director, has resigned from his job and is moving to Oregon. His last day is Friday.

"He might have caused a few ripples at times, but he's a talented planner," Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said in an interview. "We're sorry to lose him."

Now, the city is in the middle of a search for a planning director. Twenty people — 14 from Utah and six from out of state — applied for the post, which was closed to applications last week. City leaders expect to select a new director by the end of September.

The salary for the position is slated to be $65,000 to $75,000 plus benefits, depending on the applicant's experience, officials said.

Black, who started as a city planner in 2005 when the city was created and supervises three people, makes $76,000 a year.

Black, 37, said it was a "family decision" for him to start looking for jobs in the Northwest after a vacation to Seattle in June. He will soon start as the community development director for Grants Pass, Ore. He will make $90,000 plus benefits and a car allowance and supervise 20 employees. He starts Sept. 20.

Black, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah, said he, his wife, Natasha, and their four young kids are looking forward to being closer to the ocean.

"We love the green, fresh air and the mountains," he said.

Black said he really enjoyed working for Cottonwood Heights in its first few years as a city.

He also hopes the city reconsiders having the same person serve as both planning director and economic development director, as he did. He said many times residents were upset because they felt he should be protecting the city from development.

"The perception was wrong," he said. "I hope they split those things up ... so one person doesn't take the fall for everything."

Cullimore somewhat agreed. He said the city went without an economic development director for a while, so it might go without it again. Some of those responsibilities will fall to City Manager Liane Stillman, he said.

For now, Cullimore said the city is looking for a planning director who is qualified, understands the small-city mentality and who can clearly articulate their positions.

Cullimore said the job of city planners is to provide residents and developers, among others, with information and "a path for them to accomplish their objective."

However, some residents want city planners to say "no" to most development plans. Those decisions are up to the Planning Commission and City Council, he said.

"It's not their job to deny anything as a planning manager," Cullimore said. —

What's next?

Cottonwood Heights received 20 applications in its search for a planning director. City leaders plan to make an offer on the job by the end of September.