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Walston Evangelical Lutheran Church presents smaller design for Hancock Street site; hearing continued to April 16
Summary
The church presented a redesigned plan to replace its deteriorating Hancock Street building with an accessible church, community center and three one‑bedroom units; the Planning Board continued the public hearing to April 16 and asked for written parking agreements and updated traffic and drainage materials.
Walston Evangelical Lutheran Church representatives told the Quincy City Planning Board they have redesigned a previously larger proposal for a new church and community center at 552 Hancock Street, reducing the building footprint and promising improved handicap access and on‑site services. The board continued the public hearing to April 16 to allow the applicant to supply additional traffic, drainage and parking documentation.
The applicant, represented by attorney Edward Fleming, described the current church as built in 1934, with most community services located in a cramped basement only accessible by steep stairs. Fleming said the new building will provide accessible religious services, expanded community programming and three one‑bedroom residential units for people associated with the church.
Architect Jim Edwards detailed the redesign that reduced the proposed total area by about 10,000 square feet from the initial plan, moving the building back from the sidewalk, changing the massing to an L shape and reducing the largest activity space from about 5,500 square feet to roughly 2,400 square feet. Edwards said the footprint decreased from roughly 9,000 square feet to about 6,300 square feet and that portions of the building that previously rose to five stories were removed.
The applicant said the site will provide six on‑site parking spaces and outlined agreements to use nearby off‑site parking during events, including a tenancy‑at‑will arrangement with the adjacent funeral home and potential weekday/weekend use of parking at a nearby senior facility and a plaza across Hancock Street. The applicant said staff is updating a traffic report at the request of the city traffic engineer and will coordinate drainage plans with DPW and the peer review consultant.
Questions from board members and Councilor Jim focused on noise limits for a rooftop activity area, the location of an electrical transformer, trash and snow storage, deliveries, the detailed location and type of exterior lighting, and whether off‑site parking agreements would be in writing. Tim Wismar, identified as representing the church, said the rooftop outdoor space was intended for low‑impact uses such as tai chi and walking; he told the board the facility primarily serves an elderly Asian population that uses such activities.
The board voted to continue the public hearing to April 16 and directed the applicant to provide the signed parking agreement(s), updated traffic analysis requested by the city traffic engineer, the drainage/stormwater details for peer review, and a photometric lighting plan showing measures to avoid light intrusion onto neighboring properties.
The application is before the board as a site plan review under Quincy zoning ordinance Title 17, Section 9.5.1, and a special permit—parking waiver—under Section 5.1.17; the applicant also cited Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A, §3 (the Dover Amendment) for religious/educational use protections.
