The city of Pittsburgh's zoning administrator has resigned, effective today, and with his departure, nearly one-quarter of the jobs in the city Planning Department are unfilled.

City Planning Director Patrick Ford said the vacancies won't affect the department's core functions, which include planning neighborhoods, overseeing construction plans and funding community development efforts.

The department will "move some of the less-prioritized projects to the side," said Mr. Ford, while filling the positions.

Zoning administrator Bob Reppe, 36, of Regent Square, started with the city as an urban designer in 1996.

He guided many projects through the city's planning process, especially since he became zoning administrator two years ago. Most recently, he was a key player in rezoning Downtown and surrounding areas to accommodate the impending arrival of slot machine gambling.

"I have a couple of [job opportunities] that I'm looking at, and I figured I would take a few weeks off with my kids," he said.

"It was very amicable and has absolutely nothing to do with the new administration," he said of his leaving.

Mayor Bob O'Connor took office Jan. 3 and appointed Mr. Ford planning director. He was the zoning administrator before Mr. Reppe. Mr. Reppe said he had not been interested in becoming director.

Also leaving the department are zoning counter specialist Mike Fahey and senior planner Wanda Wilson, said Mr. Ford. Slots for a computer map analyst and a secretary are also vacant.

The department has 22 budgeted positions, down from 28 in 2003.