Gloucester Council Rejects East Gloucester Marine Industrial Rezoning, 6-0

Select Board · Meeting of February 10, 2026

Gloucester City Council unanimously rejected a proposal to rezone 25 East Gloucester marine industrial properties to neighborhood business and confirmed nine new board appointments at its February 10 meeting. The zoning measure, brought by former Councilor Jeff Worthley, would have reclassified landlocked parcels along East Main Street; it failed 6-0 after the Planning and Development Committee had already voted three against, zero in favor. Property owners Maria Volante of 103 East Main Street, Marcy Pregent of Way Road, and Nicole Grant of 239 East Main Street all testified in opposition, with Grant warning the change would "negatively impact future marine-related businesses." Acting President Scott Memhard presided in the absence of Council President Tony Gross; Mayor Paul Lundberg appeared to support the reappointments of CFO Connor McCorkle through February 2028, Community Development Director Alex Koppelman through February 2028, and Assessor Timothy Good through February 2029, all confirmed unanimously.

The council also accepted a $50,000 MassDevelopment grant for a redevelopment visioning study at 65 Rogers Street, with Councilor Patty Ann Page urging that marine industrial use remain central to that process.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.