New zoning ordinances have been finalized by Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford, guiding development and strengthening the main commercial districts of the city and neighborhoods adjacent to them.
Form-Based Code Districts are now created in the three main commercial areas of the city – the Acushnet Avenue Marketplace District, Goulart Square Neighborhood Center District, and Downtown Business District. These new districts not only focus on the housing and business types allowed in specific areas of the city, but also add an emphasis on the design and physical form of streets and buildings to ensure development aligns with the more aesthetic nature of the neighborhood.
In the future, construction in the three new Form-Based Code Districts will follow the traditional development patterns that define the character of the city – buildings that frame the street, pedestrian-oriented streetscapes, and active ground-floor spaces. The Planning Department presented a current typical layout of a convenience store to the City Council, featuring a parking lot in front and store at the rear of the lot. Under the new code, the store would move to the sidewalk, parking would shift to the side, and development above the retail space would be encouraged, including residential spaces.
Local Print shops can be hired to provide more details on such new codes and their ramifications for residents and businesses.
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