Christopher Koontz

Christopher Koontz, AICP, is an experienced urban planning professional currently serving as the Director of Development Services for the City of Long Beach since May 2015, where leadership is provided to a department of 220 employees across multiple bureaus. Previous roles include Acting Director and Deputy Director of Development Services, where oversight of housing, land-use planning, and climate adaptation efforts was key. Additionally, Christopher held positions as Chief of Airport Planning at Los Angeles World Airports, Planning Deputy, and City Planner for the City of Los Angeles, focusing on urban planning and economic development. Academic contributions include serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California. Christopher holds a Master's degree in City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning and a Bachelor's degree in Public Policy Analysis, both from the University of Southern California.