Zoning board allows expanded garage with storage above at 24 Vershires Street

The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance allowing homeowner Andrew Childs to demolish an existing one-car garage that fronts Ardell Street and build a two-car garage with storage above at 24 Vershires Street in Ward 3.

Childs told the board he revised his design after concerns raised at a prior hearing, reducing the structure’s height by 3 feet 8 inches to 20 feet, shrinking the footprint by about 16 percent and lowering window heights on the second floor. "We reduced the structure from two stories to one-and-a-half stories," Childs said, describing reductions he said cut the overall volume by 28 percent.

The board’s discussion centered on whether internal stairs and the second-floor storage might be converted to living space in the future. Childs said he and his architect reviewed building and sanitary codes and intentionally limited ceiling heights and usable floor area so the second floor would not meet the local definition of habitable space. "In order for it to be livable space, it has to have an average ceiling height of at least 7 feet across the floor area," Childs said, adding that less than half of the proposed second floor would meet that threshold.

Several neighbors spoke in favor, telling the board the applicants maintain the property and that the proposed structure would be an improvement. Linda Brown of 23 Adele Street said, "I'm very excited for this to go forward." Nora Duddy of 25 First Year Street said the project "will be a lovely addition to their property." One neighbor who opposed said the stair and second-floor form made the structure feel too much like a second house.

After discussion, a board member moved to allow the petition to demolish the existing garage and construct a two-car garage with storage above; another board member seconded the motion and the board voted to approve the variance.

The approval included the design changes presented at the hearing; the board did not record additional conditions in the hearing record. The applicant said revised plans would be submitted through the fourth week following the continuance noted earlier in the meeting.

The board’s vote was announced by the chair; no roll-call tally was given in the public record at the meeting.

The project will proceed through the city’s building permit and inspection processes. Applicant Andrew Childs referenced consultations with the building inspector regarding required stair clearance and ceiling heights; the hearing transcript records his statement that he spoke with the city building inspector about minimum clearances but the inspector’s full written guidance was not entered into the record.