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Council Committee Gives Favorable Recommendation to Tim Keane as Baltimore Planning Director
Summary
The Legislative Investigations Committee favorably recommended Timothy Keane for Baltimore City Director of the Department of Planning after questioning his approach to aligning the CIP with a clarified city design and ensuring meaningful community engagement; the motion passed 4–0 with one member absent.
Timothy Keane, nominated under EA 20564 to serve as Baltimore City’s Director of the Department of Planning, received a favorable committee recommendation on a 4–0 vote after a confirmation hearing in the Board of Estimates room.
Keane, who described experience leading planning offices in cities including Atlanta and Charleston, told the Legislative Investigations Committee he would prioritize clarifying “the city we are seeking to build” and aligning the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to that vision so the city can measure progress toward agreed goals. “We have to be clear and precise with residents regarding the city we are building together,” Keane said in his opening remarks.
The hearing focused on how the planning department will translate plans into measurable results and how it will involve neighborhoods. The presiding officer asked how Keane would track the return on investment for what the chair described as roughly “$4 to $5 billion” in capital spending the department will influence over the next five years. Keane said the department must enable development the city wants, adopt specific performance measures and present annual reports showing whether investments are moving Baltimore toward the agreed city design.
Committee members pressed Keane on community engagement and stewardship of city land. Council Vice President (role) praised Keane’s experience and urged the department to “really get deep into understanding every single neighborhood,” while Vice Chair Glover emphasized involving seniors and protecting “treasured neighborhoods.” Keane responded that engagement must be meaningful and outcome-focused and warned against confusing residents with overlapping plans from multiple agencies.
Councilman Carl Dorsey (role identified in transcript as Councilman Dorsey) questioned whether Keane’s prior Atlanta title of planning commissioner equated to the director role in Baltimore and probed his experience with permitting reforms and CIP alignment. Keane described a two-part early focus in Atlanta—fixing a broken permitting system and then designing a city-scale development plan that the CIP would implement—saying the approach produced clearer, more impactful investments.
John Laria, chair of the Planning Commission, testified in support of Keane. Laria told the committee the commission ran a broad search with more than 60 applicants, unanimously recommended Keane to Mayor Scott, and highlighted Keane’s record on zoning, permitting systems and collaborative work with elected officials.
With no public opposition during the testimony period, Councilman Dorsey moved to confirm Keane favorably; the motion was seconded by Council Vice President Middleton. Chair Schleifer, Vice Chair Glover, Councilman Dorsey and Council Vice President Middleton voted yes; Councilmember Gray was absent. The committee’s favorable recommendation advances Keane to second reader at the full council meeting.
Next steps: Keane’s nomination will appear for second reader review at the next council meeting per the committee announcement.
