BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington announced today that Planning and Transportation Director David Hittle has accepted a position with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. His final day with the City of Bloomington will be July 10.
Hittle has served as Planning and Transportation Director for the Thomson administration since April 2024, helping guide the department during a period of significant work around housing and development. As part of that work, the City has identified opportunities to clarify and streamline its internal processes, regulations, and review timelines so Bloomington can build more housing and strengthen its economic future.
“David has brought steady leadership and a strong commitment to the people of Bloomington during a critical chapter,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Importantly, he has led public engagement and laid the groundwork for UDO changes, and my administration will announce Bloomington’s upgraded permitting process before his departure. Creating more housing options so residents can afford to live here is my top priority. The work David has done to create a path forward will lead to significant changes in the months to come. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him the very best in Charlotte.”
During Hittle’s tenure, the administration worked with the development community, neighborhood associations, housing advocates, and other community partners to identify where Bloomington’s permitting, planning, and development review processes create unnecessary barriers. Hittle also took the lead in commissioning an external, cross-departmental review of the city’s permitting and plan review processes, the results of which will be released this summer. The Hopewell redevelopment project, in part, helped the City experience the development process firsthand and understand what it takes to build housing in Bloomington. Proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance related to housing and business compliance remain on track for Council consideration after its summer recess.
“This administration is serious about making Bloomington work better for those who live, build, invest, and serve here,” said Hittle. “Charlotte is an extraordinary professional opportunity in a city doing exciting work and it was not one I could pass up. I leave with confidence in Mayor Thomson’s direction and leadership team. The City is asking the right questions, taking on hard process work, and making decisions that help its development rules align with community aspirations.”
The Mayor’s Office will work closely with department staff and cross-departmental partners to maintain continuity on priority projects and to implement permitting improvements immediately.
“We know our systems need to work better, and we are focused on outcomes that meet Bloomington’s housing, transportation, and economic needs,” said Mayor Thomson.
A search for the City’s next Planning and Transportation Director is underway. The City will seek a leader who can advance the administration’s priorities in housing, economic development, and efficient, fair, and friendly processes.
