City Residents Invited To Join New Design Initiative

New Bedford residents are invited to come forward this week, and take part in a new design initiative that will guide new community development.

The process is called form-based zoning and begins with a series of meetings or "charettes" this week. The meetings will be held in three areas of the city: the Acushnet Avenue Business District, Downtown and the Goulart Square area in the South End.

Mayor Jon Mitchell tells WBSM News, form-based zoning has some positive benefits for communities. Mitchell said "it gives the city an opportunity to preserve what we love about it. We love Acushnet Avenue and Goulart Square and the Downtown because they're of a certain scale and a certain historic look, and form-based zoning really helps with historic preservation."

The Mayor also believes the process will also encourage more investment in New Bedford because would-be developers will know what to expect when they get here.

The first three meetings are being held this week and all will start at 6:30: Tuesday at the Global Learning Charter School on Ashley Boulevard, Wednesday at St. Martin's Church on Rivet Street, and Thursday at the Bristol Building at 768 Purchase Street.