Baltimore Welcomes Experienced Planner Timothy Keane as New Director of Planning

Baltimore City residents will be working with a new leader in urban development and land use as Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the appointment of Timothy Keane as the next Director of the Department of Planning. Keane, a planner with extensive experience across multiple North American cities, was unanimously recommended for the position by the Planning Commission, which managed the selection process. His appointment comes at a significant time for Baltimore, as the city aims to foster thoughtful growth that benefits all its residents and businesses.

Keane’s career highlights include leadership roles in planning departments for prominent cities such as Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Boise, Idaho; and Calgary, Canada. In Calgary, he played a key role in a rezoning initiative that expanded opportunities for affordable housing throughout the city. Prior to his work in Canada, Keane was instrumental in Boise’s adoption of its first new zoning ordinance since 1966.

His tenure as Commissioner of City Planning for Atlanta spanned nearly seven years. During this period, he spearheaded the Atlanta City Design initiative, a comprehensive concept for equitable development that was later integrated into the city’s charter. Keane also led a significant overhaul of Atlanta’s permitting processes, implementing a new business plan that proved effective during a period of unprecedented construction activity. Notably, while in Atlanta, he developed an Anti-Displacement Tax Fund designed to support low-income homeowners facing potential displacement. Before his time in Atlanta, Keane dedicated over 16 years to the city of Charleston, where he held the position of Director of Planning, Preservation & Sustainability and led economic development efforts in the city’s downtown area. He also contributed to the first major reorganization of Charleston’s city government since the 1970s.

In his new role as Baltimore’s Planning Director, Keane will be responsible for overseeing a broad range of critical city functions. These include urban planning and design, land use and zoning regulations, development oversight, and capital budgeting. He will also direct the city’s offices focused on sustainability, food policy, and historic preservation. His leadership aims to advance the department’s mission of cultivating Baltimore as a diverse, sustainable, and vibrant city of distinct neighborhoods, while also reinforcing its role as a regional economic and cultural hub. Keane’s academic background includes a Master of Science in Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Planning from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he has held fellowships and adjunct faculty positions at the University of Miami and the College of Charleston, respectively. He succeeds Chris Ryer, who is retiring after a distinguished career in Baltimore’s government and community sectors. The appointment requires confirmation by the City Council.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of the Mayor of Baltimore

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