NOTE: THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED. CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD’S HOMEPAGE UNDER QUICK LINKS, THEN MEETINGS.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED, on a COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9, Comprehensive Zoning by adding Section 4200D – Solar Energy Systems. (Matter ID #1484) (Referred – September 25, 2025.) (Duly advertised in The Standard Times on November 6, 2025 and November 13, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
1a. AN ORDINANCE, (Matter ID #1485) (Referred – September 25, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
1b. COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Ryan J. Pereira, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to amending Chapter 9, Section 4000, by inserting Section 4200D – Solar Energy Systems, including the associated use regulation table, for the purpose of regulating solar energy systems in residential and non-residential zoned districts; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment. (Received – November 14, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
2. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED, on a COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9 Comprehensive Zoning – Relative to Accessory Dwelling Units. (Matter ID #1486) (Referred – September 25, 2025.) (Duly advertised in The Standard Times on November 6, 2025 and November 13, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
2a. AN ORDINANCE, (Matter ID #1487) (Referred – September 25, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
2b. COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Ryan J. Pereira, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to amending Chapter 9, Section 2340, regarding standard and permitting of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and associated definitions in Section 1200; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment. (Received – November 14, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
3. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED, on a COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9, COMPREHENSIVE ZONING, Relative to Parking Requirements - Appendix C - Table of Parking and Loading Requirements. (Matter ID #1614) (Referred – October 09, 2025.) (Duly advertised in The Standard Times on November 6, 2025 and November 13, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers.)
3a. AN ORDINANCE, (Matter ID #1615) (Referred – October 09, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
3b. COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Ryan J. Pereira, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to amending Chapter 9, Parking Requirements within Appendices A & C for principal use regulations; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment. (Received – November 14, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
4. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED, on a COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9, COMPREHENSIVE ZONING, Relative to Parking Requirements – Appendix B – Table of Dimensional Regulations, Residential Infill Development, and Multiple building per lot. (Matter ID #1616) (Referred – October 09, 2025.) (Duly advertised in The Standard Times on November 6, 2025 and November 13, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers.)
4a. AN ORDINANCE, (Matter ID #1617) (Referred – October 09, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
4b. COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Ryan J. Pereira, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to amending Chapter 9, COMPREHENSIVE ZONING, Relative to Parking Requirements – Appendix B – Table of Dimensional Regulations, Residential Infill Development, and Multiple building per lot; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment. (Received – November 14, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
5. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED, on AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations. (Matter ID #1621) (Referred – October 09, 2025.) (Duly advertised in The Standard Times on November 6, 2025 and November 13, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers.)
5a. COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Ryan J. Pereira, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to amending Chapter 9, Appendix A – Table of Principal Use Regulations, Sections 4800, 4900 and 4300, regarding the Special Permit Granting Authority for specific uses; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment with the exception of the changes proposed to Batch Asphalt and Concrete Plants and Contractor’s Yards based on the comments received during the public hearing. (Received – November 14, 2025.) (November 20, 2025 – Public Hearing continued to Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes and Oliver, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances meet with the City Planner and Inspectional Services Commissioner to review and discuss the current condo legislation for a possible amendment to include the ability for Resident “A” zoned properties that are greater than 3,250 square ft. of living space to have the ability through a Special Permit process to be reconstituted into Residential Condo units. (Matter ID #1008) (Referred – June 13, 2024.) (September 19, 2024 – tabled to allow Atty. Gerwatowski time to review and amend the proposed Ordinance.) (November 18, 2024 – tabled) (March 31, 2025 – remain on the table) (November 20, 2025 – remain on the table)
6a. DRAFT ORDINANCE, Relative to Condominiums in Residence A Zoned Districts, (Received – September 20, 2024.) (November 18, 2024 – tabled) (March 31, 2025 – remain on the table) (November 20, 2025 – remain on the table)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Anne Louro, Acting Director, Planning Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office
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