New Development Services Director to Take the Helm

Patrick Howard, who has served the past six years as an assistant director for the City of San Antonio’s Department of Planning and Community Development, has been hired as the City of San Angelo’s Development Services director.

As Development Services director, Howard will lead the City operations responsible for ensuring compliance with a variety of codes meant to yield productive, safe, orderly and attractive development that enhances the community’s quality of life. The Development Services Department includes four divisions: Planning, Building Permits & Inspections, Geographic Information Systems and Engineering Services.

After earning a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in urban planning from Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. in 1994, Howard worked as a city and neighborhood planner, a neighborhood manager and a planning department director in Virginia and Pennsylvania. He has also worked as a development specialist and as the deputy director of planning and development for housing authorities in Philadelphia and Youngstown, Ohio, respectively.

He joined the City of San Antonio in 2007 as its assistant director of planning and development services. From October 2010 to May 2011, he served as the department’s interim director before deploying to Afghanistan as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. When he returned in May 2012, he resumed his position as assistant director, managing three core service areas: housing services, tax increment financing and redevelopment planning.

Howard is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the highest certification level for the planning profession. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture with a concentration in construction management from Clemson University in South Carolina in 1990.

Howard was selected from a field of 26 applicants, four of whom were eventually interviewed by a panel consisting of City Councilman Rodney Fleming, City Manager Daniel Valenzuela, Assistant City Managers Michael Dane and Rick Weise, and Human Resources Director Lisa Marley. Howard succeeds AJ Fawver, who has served as the interim Development Services director. His first day with the City will be Feb. 24.

“I’m excited not only by the opportunity, but from what I see happening in San Angelo,” Howard said. “The efforts to revitalize downtown and to maximize Lake Nasworthy’s potential are clear indications that San Angelo embraces smartly planned development. I’m eager to contribute to that movement.”

Assistant City Manager/CFO Michael Dane said in light of the economic growth and development occurring within San Angelo, the Development Services director’s position represents a critical hire.

“We all want growth, but we want it to occur in a way that won’t impinge upon San Angelo’s high quality of living,” Dane said. “We fully expect Patrick’s work in that regard will be as impressive as his prior experience and successes have been. We love his approach to customer service.”