Please note new COVID 19 Procedures – New Bedford Department of City Planning:
Due to the COVID- 19 outbreak, Governor Baker issued an Executive Order prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people, effective March 24, 2020. Further, Mayor Mitchell closed City Hall to public access, effective March 17, 2020. This effectively means that boards and commissions may not meet in person with the public during the time that these state and city orders are in effect. However, pursuant to a March 12 executive order issued by Governor Baker that relaxed the requirements of the Open Meeting Law, boards and commissions may meet entirely remotely.

To avoid further disruptions in schedule, all upcoming meetings of our governing boards (Planning Board, ZBA, Historical Commission, NBRA and CPC) will be held via conference call until the restrictions are lifted. Case materials will continue to be accessible via our board websites. For dial-in information, please see upcoming agendas as posted.

In addition, City Hall offices remain closed.
All filing requests, abutters requests, and other inquiries will be processed by first sending an email to staff with electronic files to review. Upon review, staff will request that you drop off hard copies and or/payments by appointment to a designated drop off site where they will be stamped in for processing. It is requested that each filing also submit an extension request to allow for the potential delays in this process. All schedules and deadlines will remain the same. Please see links to staff emails here on this webpage or call: 508-979-1488

About Us

The Office of City Planning is responsible for providing sound, unbiased planning practices, resulting in the implementation of short and long-term plans and policies for the City of New Bedford. The Planning Office administers the local and state regulations regarding land use and land reuse, oversees the site plan review process for construction projects and reviews proposed signage for compliance with the city’s sign ordinance. The Planning Division also provides staff support to the Planning Board, Historical Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, the City Council, and other city departments, boards and commissions as needed.

Staff

Tabitha Harkin, Director of City Planning

Kirsten Bryan, Deputy Director of City Planning

Rudy Botros, Staff Planner

Jennifer Carloni, Staff Planner

Anne Louro, Preservation Planner

Angela Goncalves, Assistant Project Manager

Jessica Bailey, Community Preservation Act Coordinator