Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Multifamily Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Board continues 11 McGrath Highway hearing to Jan. 15 after debate over parking, floodplain and neighbor concerns
Summary
Galvin QS Development's proposal to replace a vacant nursing home with a six-story, 50-unit building at 11 McGrath Highway (case 2024-14) was presented; neighbors and councilors raised parking, drainage and proximity concerns and the board continued the hearing to Jan. 15, 2025 for a neighborhood meeting and technical follow-up.
The Quincy Planning Board continued public hearings on a proposal by Galvin QS Development to demolish a former nursing home and build a new six-story building at 11 McGrath Highway containing 50 residential units and 64 parking spaces. The presentation described 12 one-bedroom and 38 two-bedroom units, a one-level parking garage under five floors of residences, 40 exterior spaces and 24 spaces under the building.
Attorney Edward Fleming introduced the project team and explained the board is being asked for special permits under the Quincy Center zoning district (Title 17) and a parking-waiver special permit. Sean Gelden (project lead) explained the site is in a Quincy Center zoning district that allows taller buildings in certain locations and noted the project meets dimensional requirements while requesting a parking waiver.
Drainage and floodplain constraints drew significant technical attention. Gelden and engineer Jim Burke described detention, treatment measures for runoff and a design that accounts for Town Brook and FEMA 100-year elevations. "The new structure must be able to empty from floodwaters by gravity," Gelden said, noting the garage floor and utilities are set with flood elevation constraints in mind.
Neighbors and abutters raised parking and drainage concerns. Pamela Olinsky, an attorney representing owners at 21 McGrath Highway, said parking overflow remains the biggest concern and suggested gating the abutting lot and careful review of civil and drainage plans. Multiple councilors and residents asked for a community meeting; Ward 5 Councilor Dan Minton offered to help convene the neighborhood meeting.
The applicant said comparable condominium projects in the city have had similar or lower ratios and argued the site's proximity to a new parking garage and MBTA access makes the 64-space plan workable. Gelden told the board some recent local projects have a roughly 1:1 parking ratio and cited an expected 1.3 ratio for visitor/second-vehicle accommodation.
After discussion, including a recently received peer-review report, the board voted to continue the matter to Jan. 15, 2025 to allow the applicant to convene neighborhood meetings with affected councilors and to respond to peer- and department-review comments.
Next steps: applicant and councilors will schedule community outreach in early January; the board will reconvene the hearing on Jan. 15, 2025 to consider final responses and peer-review follow-ups.
