The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
Watertown City Manager George Proakis announces that Kennan Rhyne, AIA, AICP, will be the City’s new Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning.
Rhyne is an experienced municipal planner and architect who brings to Watertown an impressive background of leading and contributing to complex planning projects across the region. She most recently served as Principal of her own consulting firm since 2023, where she advised the cities of Boston, Lowell, Quincy, and many other cities and towns on projects related to land use planning, zoning, urban design, and public policy.
Rhyne previously served as Deputy Director for Comprehensive Planning in Boston’s Planning and Development Agency, including a stint as Interim Director of Planning in 2022. During her time with the City of Boston, she conducted extensive planning studies that addressed housing needs, economic development, climate resiliency, transportation, and open space. She played a significant role in Boston’s recent master planning in key neighborhoods, including PLAN: Downtown and PLAN: Charlestown Corridor Study, each of which established a new framework for the growth, enhancement, and preservation in key Boston neighborhoods.
“Kennan Rhyne is a leader and an innovative thinker when it comes to developing and planning communities. I can’t wait to work closely with her on my leadership team as we continue to carry out the vision for Watertown in our comprehensive plan,” said City Manager Proakis. “Her creativity and commitment to community engagement are going to be immensely important as we move forward with some of the large-scale planning initiatives in Watertown over the next several years.”
Prior to Boston, Rhyne was the Urban Design Director at Utile, where she served as the Lead Designer and Project Manager on a variety of planning projects. Utile was the lead design firm in the recently completed Watertown Square Area Plan. Rhyne has also taught a variety of architecture and planning courses at Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Rhyne holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University, as well as Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Rhyne will be taking the role of Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning and will be leading the Department of Community Development and Planning for the City. This is the role most recently held by Steve Magoon, who retired earlier this year after serving Watertown in this role since 2008.
Rhyne’s first day will be April 13, 2026. Please join the City in welcoming Kennan Rhyne to Watertown!