Heritage Companies scales down Willard/Robertson project, pledges granite house donation and $30,000 for traffic study; planning board approves with conditions

Attorney Edward Fleming, representing 622 Quarry LLC and development partners Heritage Companies, presented design revisions on May 21 for a previously reviewed 58-unit development at 86–92 Willard St. and 135 Robertson St. The applicants reduced the building by one full story and removed 10 units, revising the plan to a 48-unit building with roughly 75–95 on-site parking spaces depending on level, reconfigured garage access and more landscaped open space.

Fleming said the project team met with the mayor and city engineers after neighbors and board members raised concerns about the historic granite structure on site and traffic and safety at the nearby intersection of Quarry, Willard and Stedman streets. The mayor’s office arranged a structural assessment and, after consultation, city officials and the applicant agreed the granite structure could be removed from the property and donated to the city. Fleming said the developer will donate the building and its stone material to the city at no cost so the structure can be relocated and reassembled at the Lions Turning Mill site to serve as a permanent home for a local granite/quarrying museum program.

To address intersection safety concerns the applicant committed to contribute $30,000 to fund a professional comprehensive traffic safety study — to be provided prior to issuance of a building permit — that will evaluate Quarry/Willard/Stedman and other nearby intersections and recommend short-, mid- and long-term countermeasures. Fleming said the commitment will allow the city to retain a traffic engineering firm immediately after approvals so recommended fixes can be implemented before occupancy.

Architect David Seibert (BKA Architects) and civil engineer Carlos Sculte (CEC) described multiple plan changes: losing the top floor, re-locating the loading area from Robertson Street to Willard Street to reduce truck activity on the smaller residential street, preserving two large, mature trees (including an oak on Robertson), moving a transformer and generator away from the Robertson entry, widening/improving sidewalks across the block and upgrading stormwater design. The applicant said the project will reduce overall impervious area, detain stormwater in chambers under the lot and discharge to the municipal system at controlled rates; DPW and peer reviewers provided comments that the team addressed and will observe for final construction.

Neighbors and community members voiced continuing objections to scale and traffic impacts, while supporters said the applicant has a record of quality local projects and that some neighborhood traffic problems predate this proposal. Several residents asked whether taxpayer funds would be needed to relocate the granite building; Fleming and other officials said the city’s Community Preservation Committee will consider a relocation/funding request (a separate public process) and that the developer’s donation makes materials and access available at no cost to the city.

After department review and a multi-page list of required special and general conditions (drain permits, water flow test, CCTV sewer inspection, DPW observation of stormwater construction steps, O&M plan and other standard construction controls), the Planning Board voted to approve site plan review and a parking-waiver special permit under Quincy Zoning Ordinance Title 17 with the listed conditions. The board recorded the motion and a unanimous voice vote in favor.

Actions and next steps: approval is subject to the Planning Department and DPW conditions. The applicant must provide the $30,000 traffic-study contribution prior to issuance of a building permit, perform the required pre- and post-construction CCTV inspections and coordinate the relocation of the granite structure with city staff and the Lions Turning Mill stakeholders.