Walson Evangelical Lutheran Church presents smaller replacement building, board continues public hearing to April 16

Walson Evangelical Lutheran Church representatives presented a revised plan to replace the existing 1934 church at 552 Hancock Street and the adjacent parsonage at 8 Ellington Road with a smaller, accessible church building that would include community and educational space and three one‑bedroom residential units.

The proposal, filed for site-plan review under Quincy zoning ordinance Title 17 and invoking the so‑called Dover Amendment (Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40A, § 3), would demolish the two existing structures on two parcels totaling 11,440 square feet in the Business B zoning district and construct a new L‑shaped building with six on‑site parking spaces and additional shared parking agreements with nearby properties.

The applicant team said the current building is deteriorating and lacks handicap access; Edward Fleming, representing the church, told the board the project is “entitled to the protections of 40 A Section 3” as…