Gloucester Planning Board Recommends Floodplain Ordinance Update Ahead of July FEMA Map Deadline

GLOUCESTER -- May 15, 2025, Gloucester Planning Board unanimously backed a required update to the city's floodplain ordinance and launched the final public comment period for its two-year comprehensive plan at a May 15 meeting. Planning Director David Rosen walked the five-member board through amendments to Section 5.5 of the Gloucester Zoning Ordinance, driven by new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Essex County taking effect July 8, 2025; the key change updates a date reference from the 2018 maps and adds a clarification limiting the 10 percent floodplain alteration standard to dry land above elevation 5, excluding tidal and salt marsh areas. The board voted 5-0 to recommend City Council adoption; the amendment next goes to the Planning and Development Committee. Separately, consultant Laura Smead of Jay and Remfer Goldson reported the comprehensive plan, two years in development and logged at 3,894 community engagement touch points, is ready for a final public comment period running through the end of June, with a Planning Board adoption vote targeted for July.