Gloucester City Council Rejects Broad Zoning Change Aimed at Easing Housing Conversions

GLOUCESTER — May 27, 2025 — Gloucester City Council defeats a zoning ordinance that would have eased housing conversions in nonconforming structures, voting 5-1 against the measure after the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and city solicitor all raised concerns. Council Order 2025-014, sponsored by Councilor Jeff Worthley, would have added Section 3.1.9 to the Gloucester Zoning Ordinance, exempting property owners who change the use of an existing structure — such as converting commercial space to apartments — from seeking separate dimensional variances for height or setback features they are not altering. City Solicitor Suzanne Egan told the council the amendment "takes such a broad brush" and conflicts with MGL Chapter 40A Section 6. A motion by Worthley to withdraw the order without prejudice failed 3-3. In other business, the council voted unanimously to confirm Joseph Palizia to the Gloucester Housing Authority and Lauren Norton to the Zoning Board of Appeals; adopted MGL Chapter 90, Section 17C, enabling a local 25 mph speed limit on thickly settled streets; petitioned MassDOT to reduce Derby Street's speed limit from 30 mph to 15 mph; approved a conservation restriction over 178 acres at 200R Magnolia Avenue; updated the city's floodplain overlay district ordinance to comply with FEMA maps effective July 8, 2025; and added the Fort Square playground parking lot to the two-hour parking zone to prevent all-day employee parking from blocking family access.