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Department of Planning - Divisions

The Department of Planning, in concert with the Planning Commission, is the agency entrusted with the mission of guiding the harmonious development of Baltimore City. This mission is directed at achieving one overarching goal: to make Baltimore the most livable, dynamic, and attractive city that it can be.

The Department has established the following five planning divisions to help it carry out its mission:

• Office of the Director
• Comprehensive Planning
• Land Use and Urban Design
• Research and Strategic Planning
• Historical and Architectural Preservation

Office of the Director

The Office of the Director provides overall direction and administration for the Department of Planning. This includes, but is not limited to a variety of office support and management services for the Department, including personnel and benefits administration, clerical and planning support, and training and staff development.

Additionally, the Office of the Director develops the Department's annual operating budget, monitors the Department's spending throughout the year, and seeks out and administers planning and planning support services grants. The Office of the Director is also responsible for creating and maintaining Department publications, including the Development Guidebook and the Community Association Directory.

Comprehensive Planning

Laurie Feinberg, Division Chief (410) 396-1275

Capital Improvement Program, (410) 396-8357
Critical Area, (410) 396-5902
Forest Conservation, (410) 396-4369
Park Heights Team Leader, (410) 396-1670

		YOUR COMMUNITY PLANNERS
		Northeast
		William Doane, Jr.	(410) 396-5901
		Southern
		Brenton Flickinger	(410) 396-5936
		Eastern
		William Doan, Jr.	(410) 396-5901
		Kyle Leggs	(410)396-4135
		Southwest
		Kyle Leggs	(410) 396-4135
		Central
		Robert Quilter	(410) 396-4107
		Laurie Feinberg	(410)396-1275
		Southeast
		Jill Lemke	(410) 396-5933
		Northwest
		Sara Paranilam	(410) 396-5935
		Northern
		Tamara Woods	(410) 396-5932
		Western
		Andrea Limauro	(410) 396-5934

The Comprehensive Planning Division directs the formation of and ensures the adherence to the City's Capital budget and comprehensive plans. This includes, but is not limited to directing the Mayor's Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan program, urban renewal plans, community based planning initiatives, environmental review, transit oriented development, the Capital Improvement Program, and critical areas management. Working closely with private citizens, neighborhood/community based organizations, and non-profits to ensure that sound planning principles are being applied, the Comprehensive Planning Division incorporates a variety of planning disciplines including land use, environmental planning, transportation planning, and community planning to ensure that the City is provided with realistic, implementable plans.

Comprehensive Planners within this section are assigned to geographic sections (planning districts) that correspond to the points of a compass. The Comprehensive Planners each specialize in specific areas such as housing, transportation, commercial development, environment, historic preservation, etc. Each planner is intimately involved in, and aware of, the Capital Improvement Program and its role in implementing the plans developed through this Division. Comprehensive Planners in the Division provide services such as:

• Developing a capital budget and six-year capital improvement program (CIP) annually, by reviewing capital improvement requests and making recommendations about the placement, reuse, or closing of facilities.
• Publishing Baltimore's Capital Improvement Program, which lists projects funded through the CIP once it has been adopted by the City Council.
• Developing and coordinating appropriate community review of planning-related City Council bills, as well as zoning appeals and subdivision and development plans.
• Implementing State-mandated Forest Conservation and Critical Area (shoreline protection) Programs, as well as greenways projects.
• Enforcing the City's Floodplain Management Program, coordinating the City's flood prevention initiatives with other agencies, and educating the public about floodplain management.
• Developing the City's loan authorization program.
• Providing technical assistance to neighborhoods as they develop urban renewal plans and plan amendments, neighborhood plans, and institutional master plans.

Land Use and Urban Design

Gary Cole, Division Chief (410) 396-8337

Subdivision Plans, (410) 396-8337
Site Plan Review Committee, (410) 396-4488
Floodplain Management, (410) 396-4718

The Land Use and Urban Design Division ensures that development proposals are in line with the Comprehensive Master Plan, aesthetically pleasing, within the character of the respective neighborhood, and fiscally beneficial to the City of Baltimore. The Division serves as the first stop for development in the City of Baltimore. Working in conjunction with the Comprehensive Planning Division, the division leads all zoning and land use studies for the City.

Planners within this section have a keen understanding of the City's zoning and building codes, neighborhood character and history, and architecture and design principles. This division works closely with the Planning Commission to carry out its responsibilities effectively and meet City Charter and State development mandates. Planners in the Division review all new construction and some major renovation projects to ensure that they meet high development standards and are appropriate to their surroundings. These projects range from individual buildings to large subdivisions.

In addition, the Division also coordinates the work of the Design Advisory Panel, which brings together architects, planners, landscape architects, and architectural historians to review all major new projects downtown and in the neighborhoods from a design perspective. In addition, upon request, the Division provides design advice to community organizations. The Division also is involved with:

• Evaluating regulatory policy on land uses and individual development projects requiring City Council legislation;
• Reviewing and making recommendations on all subdivision proposals;
• Making revisions to the Baltimore City Zoning Code
• Making recommendations to the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals on all conditional uses and conversions of buildings;
• Coordinating the interagency Site Plan Review Committee;
• Coordinating the Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (UDARP)

Research and Strategic Planning

Seema Iyer, Ph.D, Division Chief (410) 396-7272

The Research and Strategic Planning Division provides information, research, analysis and evaluation of planning practices to enable the Department's decision-making and development activities. The division is responsible for for maintaining and updating the City's comprehensive master plan, producing the City's cooperative forecast in collaboration with the member jurisdictions of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, preparing for decennial censuses and working with the US Census Bureau to produce annual population estimates, and providing GIS-based information and analysis on planning policies and decisions. In addition to serving as a clearinghouse for GIS and Census-based information the City of Baltimore, the Division is charged with maximizing the use of emerging technologies and planning support systems to help inform elected officials, developers, planners and communities of the impact and status of development in the City. The Division works closely with the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Greater Baltimore Committee and other community, academic, local, state, and federal organizations and agencies.

In addition, the Division provides the City's agencies and Office of the Mayor with data analysis, best practice research and grant opportunities for the various fields of planning: Housing and Community Development, Transportation Planning, Environmental Planning, Economic Development Planning, Real Estate Development and Public Health.

Historical and Architectural Preservation

Kathleen Kotarba, Executive Director (410) 396-4866

Baltimore City's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) has helped to preserve our City's historic neighborhoods and sites since 1964. Over 7,000 buildings have been designated by CHAP as either local landmarks or part of a local historic district, making the Baltimore City preservation program the most encompassing one in Maryland!

The CHAP Mission is to enhance and promote the culture and economy of Baltimore through the preservation of buildings, structures, sites and neighborhoods, that have aesthetic, historic and architectural value. CHAP goals include preserving historic architecture and monuments; reclaiming broken neighborhoods; preventing demolition by neglect; and integrating our City's past into its future. CHAP programs include:

• Survey & Designation of districts and landmarks
• Permit and plans review
• Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit
• Baltimore City Heritage Area
• Monument Restoration
• Edgar Allan Poe House Museum & Events
• Technical assistance & research for neighborhoods and public spaces