Gloucester City Council Raises Non-Resident Beach Parking Fees by $10 Per Day

GLOUCESTER -- January 28, 2025, Gloucester City Council votes to raise non-resident beach parking fees by $10, setting an April 24 special election on state zoning compliance. At its January 28 meeting, the council voted 7-1 to increase all non-resident online parking fees at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, and Stage Fort Park by $10 per vehicle per day, up from a proposed $5, projecting roughly $700,000 in additional annual revenue against what the mayor has described as a $3 million to $4 million budget deficit. Councillor Dylan Benson cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the jump was too steep. The council then voted 6-0, with Councillors Val Grace and Jeff Worthley formally recused on conflict-of-interest grounds, to set April 24, 2025 as the date for a special election on the city's MBTA Communities Act 3A zoning compliance plan. City Clerk Val Green pegged the cost of the election at approximately $36,200. Councillor Jason Groh argued the date was imperative, warning that state infrastructure grants the city cannot currently access "will be reprogrammed on July 1" if Gloucester remains out of compliance.