Gloucester Planning Board Endorses Western Avenue Lot-Line Adjustment Unanimously

GLOUCESTER — February 20, 2025 — Gloucester Planning Board unanimously endorsed a family property-line adjustment on Western Avenue at its February 20 meeting. The board voted 5-0 to approve an approval-not-required plan submitted by Chai Hocknet to shift the boundary between his home at 423 Western Avenue and the adjacent 403 Western Avenue — his grandparents' former property, now set to be sold by his mother and her siblings — by roughly three to four feet along an existing retaining wall. Planning Director Greg Katamatori noted both lots remain undersized for the zoning district but that setback requirements are still met. Community Development Director Alex Koppelman also briefed the board on the city's comprehensive plan, reporting 183 survey responses collected so far ahead of a March 7 close date, with a department-head meeting on implementation scheduled for March 6. The board approved its February 6 minutes 4-0-1, with member Sean Henry abstaining.