One of the many benefits of working for the City of Grand Junction is the opportunity to make a positive impact within your own hometown. City Planning supervisor, Felix Landry, has lived and worked in Grand Junction for less than a year and a half and he has already seen the positive outcomes that come with working for the City. After working as a private consultant for several years, Landry’s motivation to work for the City of Grand Junction was the ability to see the results of his work within his own community.
“Living in the city that you work for allows you to see how your efforts directly impact the place you live,” Felix shared. “You get to know the city really well.”
Felix and his wife both moved from Texas to Grand Junction in May of 2021 with their young daughter and two sons. After deciding they were ready for a change, they began exploring possible locations to relocate to and Grand Junction came out on top.
“There’s a lot to love about living in Grand Junction,” Felix said. “It’s a good size, with little traffic. It’s also a great location, right between the Rockies and the high desert. For me, the weather is ideal. We get four distinct seasons but they’re temperate. It snows only a little in town; however, if you want a lot of snow, you’re only 45 minutes from the Grand Mesa.”
With three kids between the ages of 5 and 10, the Landry family has been quick to take advantage of the many recreational activities available in and near Grand Junction. In addition to hiking and camping, which the family has long enjoyed, they’ve embraced new experiences as well.
“We didn’t have much access to snow in Texas, so our first winter here we did a lot sledding and we even tried skiing,” Felix said. “We also like going to Grand Mesa in the summer to go swimming in the lakes.”
Since graduating from Texas A&M University and moving from Texas, Felix has really enjoyed his job with the City of Grand Junction. Felix’s planning and development team is focused on every step of the process. Working on both residential and commercial development, the department opens and closes all projects.
There’s been a lot to learn during Felix’s relocation to Grand Junction and in his new position. “The state rules are a little different, and the city process is a little different than my previous work,” Felix said. His strategy for conquering the learning curve has been to dive right in. Not long after he started in his position, the City overhauled its codes, which offered Felix a rare opportunity to completely immerse himself in every aspect of city planning. “Updating development codes and landscaping codes, getting feedback from locals, learning how they do things… It’s been a very impactful project to take on and learn from, right off the bat,” Felix said.
Revising the codes is one of Felix’s ongoing and primary goals in his position. “I’m hoping our development process can get a little bit simpler. With updated codes and a set of clearer expectations, it will be easier to implement the vision and strategy described in the City’s comprehensive plan,” he said.
In addition to the recreational and lifestyle perks of his new home, Felix has also gained some appreciation about his new employer. “Everyone I work with is wonderful, and the City takes good care of its employees,” Felix said. “Some cities struggle to build a healthy public perception of their planning department, but that’s not the case here. We have a strong and healthy relationship with our local partners.”
The City of Grand Junction has multiple positions open, from part-time and seasonal, to full-time and year-round, in a variety of fields. To find out more about working for the City, check out what other employees have said about working for the City or visit the City of Grand Junction job board.
Photos By:
Felix Landry, @peachwoodproductions1