The City of Littleton has announced the hiring of a new director of community development.

Glen Van Nimwegen, who comes to Littleton from the Phoenix area, will join the city’s staff May 16.

For the past three years, the position has been filled on an acting basis by long-range planner Dennis Swain, who will return to that post.

In a March 23 news release, Littleton City Manager Jim Woods said Van Nimwegen impressed the interview panel in a number of ways.

“He demonstrated a good grasp of big-picture trends, while recognizing that each community has its own distinct character,” Woods said. “He will bring a broad professional experience to our great staff in Littleton.”

Van Nimwegen is currently serving as planning and community development director in Peoria, Ariz., a city of 154,000 residents located northwest of Phoenix.

Van Nimwegen said he is excited about the opportunity in Littleton, which will pay him an annual salary of $110,000.

“I was impressed during the interview process that the community has embraced being part of a dynamic urban metropolis, but refuses to be defined by it,” he said in the news release.

Van Nimwegen was selected from a field of 147 candidates following a national search. In his position with Peoria, he was responsible for the completion of an update to the Peoria General Plan, which received voter approval in August, 2010; preparation of Peoria’s first multi-modal transportation plan; and completion of the Old Town Revitalization Plan that won a “Best Master Plan” award from the Arizona chapter of the American Planning Association.

Van Nimwegen does have a Colorado connection. His wife, Suzanne, grew up in Salida.

Woods lauded Swain’s efforts in the position since April 2008.

“Dennis Swain has performed a great service to Littleton by filling in as acting director of the Community Development Department during three difficult budget years to keep the daily operations of the department running smoothly.”