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Zoning board approves underground 25x25 basketball court at 108 Albatross Road with pre-construction filming condition
Summary
The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 25 approved a variance to expand the basement at 108 Albatross Road to build a 25-by-25-foot half-court, with a condition that the homeowner document neighboring property conditions on video before construction begins.
The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance Feb. 25 to expand the basement at 108 Albatross Road to construct a 25-foot by 25-foot half-basketball court, conditioning the approval on pre-construction filming of the adjoining property at 100 Albatross Road.
Board members said the proposed court will be entirely underground beneath an existing patio and therefore not visible from the street. Manuel Paiva, the applicant’s representative, told the board the owner has lived at the property about 10 years and the work would reuse existing setbacks previously approved in an earlier ZBA decision.
Paiva said the project would extend the existing basement 25 feet to the west (described in the application as a 625-square-foot excavation) and use precast concrete slabs for the roof so the homeowner’s deck can be restored. He said the half-court would have a single hoop and painted lines and that the design includes an emergency-exit window and ladder to meet Inspectional Services requirements.
The city’s public works reviewer provided a multi-point list of items the applicant must address during permitting, including how much impervious area will change, grading and utility plans, groundwater-control and dewatering methods, support-of-excavation design, and as-built plans to be recorded. Paiva said many of those details would be resolved with professional engineering and during the building-permit process.
Ward 1 Councilor Dave McCarthy spoke during the hearing and said he had not heard local opposition but expressed concern about large homes on small lots. Neighbor Sean Ryan, at 100 Albatross Road, asked that engineering plans be reviewed to ensure no damage to his house; board members and staff said the city and DPW will require engineered designs as part of permits. Chair Marty Akins closed the public portion and indicated he would vote in favor, calling the project “just a basketball court on the ground.”
Board member motioned to approve the variance “with the express condition that filming be conducted prior to the commencement of construction and digging at 100 Albatross Road.” The motion was seconded and the board voted in the affirmative.
The approval is limited to the zoning variance; Paiva and others acknowledged additional engineering and DPW conditions must be satisfied during the building-permit and site-construction review processes.
The board’s condition requires the homeowner to document the neighboring property (100 Albatross Road) on video before work begins; members discussed that the city’s engineers and DPW will review technical designs and that the applicant must provide waterproofing and a French drain where indicated.
The board closed the hearing on this item and voted to approve under the stated condition.
