Keeland was appointed to the Houston Planning Commission in 1964 by Mayor Louie Welch. In 1981 he became chairman and served in that capacity until he left the commission in 1991. During this time Houston experienced phenomenal growth, thus challenging the planning commission to find ways to respond to these pressures in a city without comprehensive zoning or other land use laws. During Keeland’s tenure on the commission, major issues included the city’s first tree ordinance, the controversial proposal to extend Chimney Rock Road across Buffalo Bayou, and the extensive study and preparation for the zoning referendum election of 1994, which ultimately was unsuccessful. As chairman Keeland was an advocate of land use planning and, in particular, the enactment of a city-wide zoning ordinance. His files reflect these issues and others. A number of the zoning reference materials relate to a Planning and Zoning Commission Workshop held at the Woodlands Conference Center in 1992.