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.