Bloomington planning director Hittle leaving for Charlotte job

On Wednesday (June 10) Bloomington announced that planning and transportation director David Hittle’s last day with the city will be July 10. That will make his tenure with the city two years and three months. He was appointed starting April 1, 2024.

Hittle came to Bloomington from Tippecanoe County, where he had been director of the Area Plan Commission of Tippecanoe County, which includes West Lafayette. According to the news release Hittle has accepted a position with the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

A city of Charlotte spokesperson confirmed to The B Square that Hittle has accepted the position of deputy planning director, starting July 20. The spokesperson confirmed that the city government there has around 9,000 employees. The city of Charlotte has a population of around 900,000.

The city of Bloomington’s news release quotes Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson saying about Hittle, “David has brought steady leadership and a strong commitment to the people of Bloomington during a critical chapter.”

Thomson’s quote continues, “Importantly, [Hittle] has led public engagement and laid the groundwork for UDO changes, and my administration will announce Bloomington’s upgraded permitting process prior to 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.”

In Bloomington, Hittle found himself at times caught in the middle of conflict between the city council and Thomson’s administration, most visibly over compensation for planning department staff and more recently over the Hopewell South PUD approval.

At the April 1 city council meeting, which featured city council deliberations on the Hopewell South PUD, and included several proposed changes to the PUD by city councilmembers, Hittle took a clear side in the conflict. Hittle said: “This is a staggering conversation for me. The fact that a legislative body, a city council, is—‘meddling’ is the best word—in something that they shouldn’t be meddling in. This is plan commission material, if anything.” It was the occasion of Hittle’s second work anniversary with the city of Bloomington.

Hittle is quoted in the news release saying, “[Mayor Kerry Thomson’s] administration is serious about making Bloomington work better for those who live, build, invest, and serve here.” Hittle’s quote continues, “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 news release says that a search for Hittle’s replacement is underway. As of Wednesday afternoon, the vacancy had not been posted on the city’s jobs board.

The planning director is classified under the city’s compensation schedule as a Grade 13 position out of a maximum of 14 salary grades. For 2026, that translated into a range of $115,899 to $150,669 for the planning director. Based on payroll numbers from the city’s public facing interface, Hittle was paid the annual equivalent of about $124,500 this year.