Bass River Area Study & New Zoning

Bass River Area Rezoning

The Mayor's Office and Planning Department are working on creating new zoning for the Bass River Area - a prime opportunity in Beverly, and the region, to help meet the City's housing and economic needs through transit-oriented development and to provide better public access to the Bass River waterfront. 

Guiding Principles

  • Proximity to the Depot Train Station
  • Open up public access to the river
  • Opportunity for climate resilient mitigation
  • Meet the City’s housing need
  • Economic development through new investment
  • Knit together the Bass River with downtown 
  • Create a great place
Bass River Aerial Study Area Revised

Meetings - City Hosted

  • Community Meeting on Design Standards for the Bass River: January 25th, 2022 at 7:00pm (Virtual Meeting) 
  • Meet with the Mayor: October 4th from 5:30-6:45 PM @ Ryal Side Civic Association
  • Meet with the Mayor: October 18th from 5:30-6:45 @ Gillis Park 
  • Community meeting on Bass River Overlay District and Planning: September 27, 2021 at 7:00pm (Virtual Meeting)

Meetings - Community Hosted

  • Ryal Side Civic Association meeting: March 1, 2022 at 7:00pm @ Ayers Ryal Side Elementary
  • Ward 2 Civic Association meeting: March 28, 2022 at 7:30pm   @ Beverly City Hall
  • Ryal Side Civic Association meeting: April 12, 2022 at 6:30pm @ Ayers Ryal Side Elementary

Stay Informed

Please SIGN UP HERE to join the email list for project updates. 

Anticipated Process 

  • Public Meetings
  • Stakeholder Meetings
  • Ordinance Submitted
  • Joint Public Hearing
  • Planning Board Vote
  • City Council Vote
View All

Beverly Bass River District Vision and Action Plan 

This planning effort began in summer 2013 and was funded by the Barr Foundation. The Bass River industrial district and adjacent downtown areas were targeted in the City's 2002 Master Plan and MAPC's 2011 North Shore Priority Development and Priority Preservation Plan for appropriate compact, mixed use design with accompanying improvements in transportation safety and connectivity to create additional opportunities for economic activity, waterfront recreation and housing. See a map of the study area (BMP).

MAPC and the City worked with residents and property owners, businesses and Councilors to create the 2014 Beverly Bass River District Vision and Action Plan, which furthered those recommendations by developing the vision for the area and providing recommendations for how to achieve that vision.

Plan

View the full content of the plan (PDF).

Working Group

A Working Group composed of residents, a Ward Councilor, area architects, business owners and City staff provided guidance and feedback to MAPC and the City throughout the project. 

Contact

Please contact Darlene Wynne via email in the Planning Department for further information on this planning effort.