Gloucester ZBA Approves Eight Permits, Splits on Washington Street Variance

GLOUCESTER -- May 14, 2026, Gloucester Zoning Board approves eight applications and splits 4-1 on a contested Washington Street variance at its May meeting. The board's most debated item pitted architect Joseph Taramina, representing 970 Washington Street owners Josh and Ann Marie Palmer, against attorney Bill Heaney of Beverly, who argued on behalf of abutting 972 Washington Street LLC that the applicants had not demonstrated the soil, shape, or topography hardship required under MGL Chapter 40A Section 10, noting a nearly 75 percent reduction in the required 20-foot side yard setback. The board ultimately approved a variance of only 4 feet 9 inches after staff identified a superseding setback schedule that reduces the Washington Street side yard requirement to 10 feet. Attorney Joel Favaza won unanimous approval to convert the second floor of 128 Main Street, largely vacant since the Horvitz and Frisch accounting firm closed, into three three-bedroom residential units, telling the board the Central Business District "encourages residential over retail mixed use" but that "the dimensional table never got the memo." Member Michael Nyman cast the sole dissenting vote of the evening on the Palmer application.