Gloucester Planning Board Approves Two Lot Splits, Continues Stalled Subdivision Hearing

GLOUCESTER -- January 16, 2025, Gloucester Planning Board unanimously approved two lot-division plans and reelected its leadership at its January 16 meeting, while also opening a wide-ranging discussion of a 2025 work agenda that includes potential revisions to the city's inclusionary housing, cluster development, and stormwater ordinances. The board approved an Approval Not Required plan for Patrick Lowe to split 37 Thurston Point Road into two conforming R10 lots, and a second ANR plan for Cherry Street Gloucester LLC to reconfigure boundaries at 147 Cherry Street and 4 Molly's Lane to resolve a zoning nonconformity, both votes unanimous. A public hearing on a two-lot definitive subdivision by 20 Main Street LLC, called Chisholm Court Extension, was continued to February 6 after the applicant's representative made no appearance and did not respond to the Planning Director's outreach. Rick Noonan was reelected Chair and Jane Ramson reelected Vice Chair, both unanimously. Planning Director Greg Retsinas told the board that no project has made an in-lieu payment under the city's inclusionary housing ordinance since its current language took effect, and that an economic feasibility model suggests scaling the payment threshold down to as few as three or four units could generate more revenue for the Affordable Housing Trust than the current six-unit minimum.