Gerrit Knaap is a professor of urban studies and planning in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and director of the university's National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education. His research interests include the economics and politics of land use planning, the efficacy of economic development instruments, and impacts of environmental policy.
He is an ex officio member of the Governor's Smart Growth Sub-Cabinet and an expert on current planning issues, including the proposed Purple Line in Maryland. Most recently, he led the center’s multi-year efforts to create opportunity maps for the Baltimore region’s first ever Regional Plan for Sustainable Development as well as develop scenarios for a state-wide sustainability plan.
Knaap is the author of more than 75 articles and nine books on state and local land use planning and economics.
