Quincy denies lodging/sober‑house request for 44 Greenleaf Street; board cites zoning limits
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Summary
The Quincy ZBA denied a request to operate a lodging/rooming/sober house at 44 Greenleaf Street, concluding the Residence B zoning district does not permit the use there; proponents cited reasonable‑accommodation law and recent appellate decisions but the board voted to deny.
The Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny a request to allow operation of a lodging/rooming house (described by the applicant as a sober house) at 44 Greenleaf Street.
Applicant representative explained the home had a prior certificate of occupancy and that the owner had been operating a sober house, asserting the use provides transitional housing for people in recovery and is often treated as a reasonable accommodation for disabled individuals under state and federal law. Counsel noted changes in case law that affect how unrelated disabled persons in shared housing are treated under zoning.
Neighbors and city members strongly opposed the request. Multiple speakers described past incidents and neighborhood impacts they attributed to sober‑house residents and urged the board not to allow the use in a Residence B district. Greg Spagnolo, a neighbor, cited morning and late‑night disturbances and asked the board not to alter the neighborhood’s character.
Board members discussed zoning limits for Residence B and the potential for reasonable accommodation. After deliberation the board moved to deny the application; the motion to deny carried on a voice vote. The board advised the applicant of appeal rights and indicated enforcement actions (tickets) were already in place for unresolved violations noted by staff.