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Planning Board recommends Brockton’s form‑based code to council after condensed presentation
Summary
Planning Board heard a streamlined presentation on a proposed form‑based zoning code covering four neighborhood subareas and voted to recommend the ordinance favorably to City Council. Presenters said the package includes a MuniCode text, an illustrative guide and advisory design guidelines; design guidance will return to the board in May.
Emily Keys Enis, a consultant with Nennis Land Strategies Group, told the Planning Board on April 7 that the proposed form‑based code packages zoning text, an illustrative guide and advisory design guidelines intended to shape building form, massing and streetscape across four neighborhood subareas: downtown/Troutbrook, Campello, Montello and Love at Brookbrook. “There are three documents that form this whole set of tools,” Enis said, describing a text‑based MuniCode version, a more readable illustrative version for the public and separate design guidelines the planning board is authorized to adopt.
The consultant said the MuniCode text will carry the mandatory development standards — including parking, use standards, site and building design, and a green‑score measure for environmental resiliency — while the illustrative document and the design guidelines will provide diagrams, photographs and best practices to help applicants and community reviewers. Enis said the ordinance also includes an incentive, points‑based system that awards developers additional benefits for providing public amenities.
Board members focused questions on map accuracy and flexibility. James asked whether a parcel that had been held out in earlier drafts was now included; Enis said the map had been updated and that the mix‑3 district could allow tower forms but that height is only one of several dimensional constraints that also include setbacks and lot size. When asked how a property would move from one district to another, Enis said a parcel‑specific change would start with city staff review and would still require City Council action, with the planning board advising council.
After questions, a board member moved to recommend the ordinance favorably to council. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote: Marty yes; Matthew yes; James yes; Yolando/Yolanda yes; Tony yes. Enis said the team expects to return to the planning board on May 5 with the draft design guidelines for formal consideration.
What happens next: the Planning Board’s favorable recommendation will be transmitted to the City Council and the project team will bring the draft design guidelines back to the board in May for adoption and for use in staff site plan review and special permit evaluations.
