New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Table 4-3: New Bedford Zoning Districts (continued)Zoning DistrictDescriptionHistoric Districts (continued) > Moreland Terrace> County Street> Central New Bedford> New Bedford Gas and Edison Light> Merills Wharf> Bedford Landing> North Bedford> Acushnet Heights> Wamsutta Mills> Whitman Mills> Head of the River1 The Table of Dimensional Regulations indicates one house per 10,000 square foot lot, creating an inconsistency that is recommended to beresolved. This is true for the RB, RC and MUB districts as well.Zoning DiagnosticA complete zoning diagnostic was performed as a part of this planning process (provided herein asAppendix B) to help understand current zoning standards in New Bedford, and to recommend zoning changesthat will either reinforce appropriate historic land development patterns or recommend changes to supportinnovative approaches to redevelopment. This zoning diagnostic was completed with input from City staff,Master Plan Steering Committee members, Board and Commission members, focus group meetings, localdevelopers, real estate professionals, and elected officials.The zoning diagnostic outlines observations regarding the current ordinance and makes a number ofrecommendations for improvements. While a number of recommendations are presented, this diagnostic isintended to be the beginning of a process that will follow the adoption of New Bedford 2020 and will require directinvolvement of the Planning Board and City Council, which will result in a new Zoning Ordinance for the City.New Bedford 2020, and the land use recommendations presented herein, is intended to be the foundationupon which the new zoning ordinance is based.As is the case with most zoning recodification and revision efforts, there are a number of choices to be made.Frequently, it is not a matter of whether a particular option is right or wrong, but rather it is a preference orpolicy decision. The following recommendations are intended to form the basis of the zoning discussion thatwill follow the adoption of New Bedford 2020 by the Planning Board:> Recodify and update the ordinance to make it easier to use and administer;> Remove internal inconsistencies and ensure that the ordinance meets applicable statutory and case law;> Ensure that the ordinance is in conformance with the recommendations that arise from New Bedford2020, numerous strategic plans and related planning reports;> Address issues related to using the ordinance as a tool to promote economic development in targeted areasof the city;Shaping the City4-7