Douglas Economic Development Commission Eyes Zoning Change to Allow Rural Restaurants

DOUGLAS -- June 10, 2026, Douglas Economic Development Commission explores downtown overhaul and rural restaurant zoning. At its June 10 meeting, the three-member commission, Meg Schlesman, Carol Gogolenski, and Ross Smith, joined by regular visitor Bob Minerich, reviewed Assessor's Office zoning maps and identified a 12-acre commercially zoned parcel at the corner of Gilboa and North streets, listed at approximately $1.1 million with town water and sewer access, as a priority development site. Members discussed modeling a zoning change on Uxbridge's bylaws to allow restaurants by special permit in rural agricultural zones, with members noting any such change would require a two-thirds town meeting vote. The commission agreed to invite Planning Board Chair John Charbonneau and Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission staff to the next meeting for fact-finding on zoning and grant opportunities, including a reported four-town downtown improvement grant that includes Douglas. Members cited master plan survey results showing roughly 90 percent of respondents want a more attractive downtown while preserving the town's rural character, and acknowledged the town's population of approximately 9,000 sits just below the 10,000 threshold most supermarket chains require before entering a market.