The New Bedford City Council on Oct. 9 received multiple communications from Mayor John Mitchell proposing amendments to Chapter 9 (comprehensive zoning) and referred them to the ordinance committee and the planning board.

Councilors read into the record two mayoral communications proposing changes to parking requirements: one amending Appendix C, the Table of Parking and Loading Requirements; the other amending Appendix B, Table of Dimensional Regulations (residential infill and multiple buildings per lot). The council referred both to the ordinance committee and the planning board.

Separately, the council considered a report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending that city legal counsel Attorney David Garatowski draft an ordinance to amend Appendix A, the Table of Principal Use Regulations. The report listed categories for review including: motor vehicle/light service stations, wireless communications facilities, asphalt and concrete plants, biomass recycling facilities, contractor’s yards, freight terminals, heavy material sales and distribution, material salvage and recycling facilities, and recycling collection facilities. The council voted to receive the report, place it on file, and refer it to the ordinance committee and planning board.

The measures were procedurally referred; no public hearing, substantive vote, or ordinance adoption occurred at the meeting. Councilors signaled the matters will be subject to committee review and planning-board analysis before any ordinance is drafted or formally introduced for council action.

Councilors also approved a written motion from Councilors Lopez and Ferreira requesting the city explore placing two benches on the Cove Walk; that motion was forwarded to the administration and planning department. Other routine items on the consent agenda, including private livery license applications and a Department of Environmental Protection notice on a Port Authority waterway-license application, were received and placed on file.

Councilors did not adopt changes to zoning at the Oct. 9 meeting; the referrals begin the committee and planning-board review process required before any ordinance text is finalized or returned to the council for action.