Douglas Master Plan Committee reviews economic development chapter, orders corrections to natural gas data

DOUGLAS -- March 26, 2026, Douglas Master Plan Committee reviews economic development chapter, flagging errors and planning gaps. The committee met Thursday, March 26, with Joe Zabowski of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission presenting a draft economic development chapter that covers downtown revitalization, tax base growth, and permitting reform. Member Bob Moran immediately corrected the draft's claim that natural gas is unavailable in Douglas, noting that an eight-inch line runs along Gilboa Street and North Street in East Douglas, built for the Cubes at Douglas industrial development, but stops roughly 100 feet down Main Street; a planned extension to the schools has stalled over a roughly $200,000 boiler conversion the School Committee has not approved. The chapter found that 94 percent of employed Douglas residents commute out of town for work, depressing daytime foot traffic, and that Douglas's equalized valuation per capita ranks in approximately the 30th percentile statewide. Members also directed Zabowski to update language describing the Economic Development Commission as inactive, confirming the body is actively being reconstituted with a quorum already in place. The committee voted unanimously to extend the meeting by 15 minutes to finish the chapter; the next meeting, covering the land use chapter, is set for April 23.