New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Goals and ObjectivesAs a community, we desire safe, vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods that offer a multitude of uses, qualityhousing choices, good schools, walkable streets, proximity to parks and playgrounds, and the opportunity toshop for our family needs. The following goals and objectives provide a pathway to strengthen the distincthistoric and cultural fabric that create dynamic neighborhoods where people enjoy each other and the positiveexperiences that close knit neighborhoods offer.The following Goals and Objectives were developed to address the issues of housing choice, affordability, a safehousing stock, and neighborhood revitalization.1. Encourage and maintain a wide range of housing types throughout the city that reflect the historic and culturalcharacter of each area by supporting development that provides for households of all income levelsa. Encourage appropriate treatment of historic properties, and create and implement in-fill design guidelines toensure that neighborhood character is enhanced and maintainedb. Revise zoning to ensure that a mix of housing choices are allowed by-right in appropriate districtsc. Conduct an assessment identifying specific locations where additional affordable housing is deemedappropriate, such as adaptive reuse of vacant or underutilized mill buildingsd. Revise the uniform 8,000 square foot minimum lot size standard for three of the four residential zoningdistricts—RA 4 , RB, and RCe. Provide incentives that encourage housing developments to include affordable housing units that areintegrated throughout the community2. Make certain that New Bedford can meet the need for affordable housing for its current and future residentsa. Continue to meet the 10% affordable housing goal established by M.G.L. c. 40Bi. Identify projects where the affordability deed restrictions may potentially expireii. Renegotiate with the property owners to keep such units restricted for affordable housing for at least99 years or in perpetuityb. Ensure that all future affordable units remain affordable in perpetuityc. Address the needs of the significant number of New Bedford households that are potentially at risk in theirability to find affordable quality housing in the cityd. Encourage affordable housing development near the proposed train stations by acquiring station area landthrough the use of public funds before the station is constructed; and partnering with developers to pursuehousing grant funds, Chapter 40R zoning, and other tools for ensuring mixed-income housing over the longterm3. Promote a mixed-use environment in Downtown New Bedford, and in other commercial centers and corridors toensure a vibrant community during the day, evening and weekends, that creates walkable village-likeneighborhoods throughout the citya. Revise the zoning ordinance to allow mixed-use zoning in the downtown area and other neighborhood centersencompassing both residential and commercial componentsb. Provide a variety of housing choices in residential portions of mixed-use buildings4 The RA zoning district is the most prevalent residential zoning district and is located predominantly in the northeast and southwest quadrants of the city. Given the diversityof neighborhoods, land uses, and location, the 8,000 square foot minimum lot size may not be appropriate.Neighborhoods and Housing6-7