New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Completed Strategic Plans and InitiativesCompleted Citywide Planning2010– 2014 CONSOLIDATED HOUSING PLAN (2010)The Massachusetts 2010-2014 Consolidated Housing Plan 2 identifies priority housing issues faced by low- tomoderate-income citizens and the homeless. It takes stock of the city’s housing inventory and establishes thekey goal of laying the groundwork for restoration, preservation, and improvement of the local housing stock.This plan includes two key elements: the Strategic Plan, which focuses on four major program areas(affordable housing, homelessness, special needs, and community development) and describes generally howthe state will allocate the resources it expects to have available during the 5-year period; and the Action Plan,which provides details on addressing the four major program areas. Specific objectives set by the state’s planinclude:> Promote strong, sustainable communities throughout the Commonwealth;> Preserve and create affordable rental housing options for low- and moderate-income residents;> Reduce chronic and family homelessness through a housing-based approach, with a long-term goal ofending homelessness;> Help low-income households develop economic self-sufficiency;> Ensure full and fair access to housing for all residents of the Commonwealth;> Promote sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families; and> Ensure MA residents with disabilities have access to affordable, accessible community housing optionsthat support consumer choice and access to mainstream resources including employment and long-termsupport, as needed.BROWNFIELDS TASK FORCE (2010)The goal of the New Bedford Brownfields Task Force is to identify sites with the highest economicdevelopment potential for targeted EPA assessment funding based on selection criteria, including: feasibilityand potential for results; ownerships, health/environmental risk, assessment status; relationship to strategicprojects; opportunity for the creation or preservation open space, recreational space, or green space; andeligibility of brownfields funding. Goals of the Brownfields Task Force include:> Identifying additional sites for assessment;> Identifying criteria for selecting sites; and> Recommending parcels for future assessment.SOUTH COAST RAIL ECONOMIC AND LAND USE CORRIDORPLAN ( 2009)Perhaps the most transformative land use change since theindustrial era will be the return of commuter rail servicefrom New Bedford to Boston. The 2009 South Coast RailEconomic and Land Use Corridor Plan 3 is the result of aThe Southeastern Massachusetts Commuter RailTask Force is comprised of the Massachusetts BayTransportation Authority, Old Colony Planning Council,and the Southeastern Regional Planning and EconomicDevelopment District as well as 40 Task Force membersrepresenting the communities affected. The group meetson a bi-monthly basis to discuss different methods toplan and anticipate changes with the proposedCommuter Rail Extension to Fall River and New Bedford.collaborative partnership among the Commonwealth,31 corridor communities, and three regional planningagencies working in conjunction with the SoutheasternMassachusetts Commuter Rail Task Force. The result is a blueprint for clustering businesses and residences2 Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts 20010-2014 Consolidated Plan, May 2010.(website: http://www.mass.gov/Ehed/docs/dhcd/cd/planpolicy/consolidated/2010conplan.pdf)3 Executive Office of Transportation, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan,June 2009. (website: http://www.southcoastrail.com/downloads/3%20-%20South%20Coast%20Rail%20Corridor%20Plan%20-%20Low%20Resolution.pdf)Shaping the City4-9