Douglas Planning Board Unanimously Approves Gallagher Accessory Apartment at Railroad Ave.

DOUGLAS — April 22, 2026 — Douglas Planning Board approves Railroad Ave. accessory apartment and shifts meeting hour. The board voted unanimously April 22 to grant Lucille Gallagher a special permit for a roughly 600-square-foot accessory apartment at 38 Railroad Ave., finding the application met all criteria under the town's accessory apartment bylaw — owner-occupancy, family relationship between occupants, unit within existing footprint, and no change to exterior appearance. Planning consultant John Charbonneau noted that if Town Meeting on May 4 adopts pending ADU bylaw changes, Gallagher will not face the current three-year renewal requirement. The board also voted 6-1 to move its regular meeting start time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. effective May 13, and unanimously released roughly $18,335 in dormant 53G consultant escrow funds across five stalled projects, including $11,616.34 tied to a Cliff Street proposal that is no longer moving forward.