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Quincy ZBA continues homeowner’s request to add second story after neighbors and board cite maintenance concerns
Summary
The Zoning Board of Appeals continued Thomas Williams’s request to add a full second story and small front addition at 174 Palmer St., setting a Nov. 18 return date after board members said property maintenance and tenant control need attention.
Thomas Williams, owner of 174 Palmer Street in Quincy, asked the Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 for a finding under “chapter 48 6 section 6” to allow a full second-story addition and a roughly 5-by-8-foot entry extension to his single-family corner lot home.
Williams told the board the proposed second floor would follow the existing 900-square-foot footprint, produce about 1,800 square feet of finished aboveground living space, and would not alter existing setbacks or increase nonconforming dimensions. “We’re not increasing or altering any existing nonconforming dimensions, and we’re not encroaching into any other required setbacks,” Williams said during his presentation.
The board and neighboring residents raised concerns about the property’s ongoing maintenance and the applicant’s control over tenants. A board member said the property “has not been kept up” and cited complaints from neighbors about the home’s condition and the number of cars and occupants at the rental. Another member said they were “not in favor of the application at this time” because the owner had had several years since purchasing the house in August 2022 to address maintenance issues.
Williams said he had rented the property for about two years and intends to make the improvements and move back in; he also told the board he has written records showing efforts to require tenants to maintain the property. He said current leases run year-to-year and that, if approved, construction could begin after a June lease expiration, with a planned work period of about five to six months.
After discussion, the board said only four voting members were present and that four favorable votes would be required to approve the petition that night. Several board members suggested the applicant clean up the property and secure tenant changes before the board would favor the request. Williams agreed to take the feedback and said he would pursue property repairs and consider new tenants.
The board voted to continue the application to the Nov. 18 meeting; the motion passed with the board’s affirmative votes.
The applicant may return with documentation of property maintenance and any tenant changes; board members said they would be more likely to consider the finding after seeing tangible improvements and neighbor outreach.
