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Board continues contested plan to rebuild floodplain house at 656 C Street after neighbors, board criticize design
Summary
The ZBA continued a proposal to demolish and rebuild a floodplain‑compliant, three‑story home with four‑car garage at 656 C Street to the May 27 meeting after extensive criticism of the design, scale and garage practicality.
The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals continued to May 27 a proposal to demolish an existing dwelling at 656 C Street and rebuild a three‑story, floodplain‑compliant house with a four‑stall ground‑level garage after board members and neighbors criticized the design and scale.
The applicant’s representative, Manuel Piva, described the lot as a preexisting nonconforming parcel of roughly 3,642 square feet and said the house must be raised on stilts and include flood vents to meet flood‑zone requirements. He described the proposed structure as a slab on the ground level with a four‑car garage, storage, and two living floors above; he said the living space on the two upper floors totaled about 1,300 square feet per floor (roughly 2,600 square feet of livable area).
Neighbors and several board members criticized the design as overly boxy and lacking architectural character. Commenters also raised practical concerns about the garage: board discussion noted the proposed garage doors were 16 feet wide, which several members said would be too narrow to realistically park two cars side‑by‑side per bay. One nearby resident who identified himself during the hearing said he preferred to see a revised design with more character and requested a return with new drawings.
Given the breadth of criticisms the board granted a continuance to the meeting on May 27 so the applicant can revise the plans with greater attention to massing, fenestration and garage practicality. Piva acknowledged the house will be elevated with ten flood vents and that utilities will be placed on the non‑habitable ground level in keeping with floodplain requirements.
The continuation was made by motion and approved by voice vote. The clerk recorded that the matter was continued to May 27; the board asked the applicant to return with revised elevations, adjustments to garage door widths and any changes that address the board’s aesthetic concerns.
