Christopher J. Ryan, Ph.D., AICP in

Christopher J. Ryan, Ph.D., AICP

Captain · DISC type DS
Director of Planning & Building at Town of Belmont
📍 Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States

Christopher J. Ryan is a seasoned urban planner with over 30 years of experience, currently serving as the Director of Planning & Building for the Town of Belmont. He holds a Ph. D. from Antioch University New England and is described by colleagues as knowledgeable, professional, and an excellent manager with expertise in zoning and sustainability.

Beyond his professional roles, Christopher is a writer, blogger, and self-described naturalist. He is passionate about community engagement and sustainability, often writing about New England culture, environmental topics, and localism. He also has a background as an educator, having served as an Adjunct Professor at Clark University.

Unique fact: He authors a blog called "The Yankee Planner, " where he explores urban planning, sustainability, and New England life.

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Current Role
Director of Planning & Building
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States
Personality Overview

How Christopher shows up

Output-Driven
Consummate Professional
Long-Term Thinker

Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them. They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily. They exhibit a rare combination of being result-oriented but patient at the same time.

Priorities

Topics Christopher cares about

Zoning Reform
He is actively working on projects in Belmont involving zoning reform, form-based codes, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaws, which he frequently posts about.
Community Sustainability
A core theme throughout his career and a key area of his expertise, including publishing an article titled "A Yankee Model for Sustainability. "
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Career

Work history

9-2023
Director of Planning & Building
Town of Belmont
7-2022 - 4-2024
Planning Director
Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts
10-2018 - 6-2022
Director of Community and Economic Development
Town of Harvard, MA
7-2018 - 10-2018
Interim Director of Planning and Development
City of Leominster
8-2014 - 3-2019
Adjunct Professor
Clark University
In the press

Media appearances

No media yetWe could not find public media appearances for this person.
Education
2000 - 2011
Ph.D.
Antioch University New England
1983 - 1985
MCP
Georgia Institute of Technology
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

D

Dominance (D)

Dominance (D) reflects how goal and task oriented a person is, and their ability to accomplish results irrespective of how demanding the circumstances might be. Those scoring high tend to be motivated by winning, competition, and success.

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