Board continues 4 South Street seven-unit condo application after presentation and neighbor concerns
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Developers presented a four-story, seven-unit residential project at 4 South Street with ground-level parking and stormwater controls; the applicant said plans meet dimensional requirements. Neighbors raised concerns about retaining-wall complaints and ownership changes; the board continued the case to March 11.
Quincy Planning Board members heard a site plan review for 4 South Street on Jan. 14, where the applicant described a four-story, 44-foot residential building with seven units and 16 parking spaces over a roughly 14,054-square-foot lot. The board continued the case to March 11 to allow the applicant to address outstanding technical and ownership questions.
Attorney Rob Fleming said the applicant (Quincy four-six South, LLC) does not intend to seek dimensional relief and that the design meets City of Quincy zoning requirements. Architect Brian Donahue detailed unit layouts (four two-bedroom units and three one-bedroom units), removal of a previously proposed fifth-floor amenity, exterior materials and screening, and a 25-foot setback. Civil engineer Eric Brannese described pervious-paver parking, an 8-inch perforated pipe under the pavers for infiltration, and roughly 6,100 square feet of new landscaped area to increase green space on a lot that had been nearly entirely paved.
Why it matters: A nearby resident, Jenny McNeil, testified there is an open Inspectional Services Department complaint related to a failing retaining wall and foundation problems at a neighboring development; she urged the board to ensure prior issues are addressed before allowing a new, adjacent project to proceed. Planning staff said abutters were notified per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A and that ISD and planning staff are monitoring complaints; staff recommended continuance to allow time for follow-up.
What was decided: The board voted to continue the 4 South Street hearing to March 11 so the applicant can provide additional detail (including transformer location and landscape/planting plans) and coordinate with peer-review comments from city engineers.
Next steps: Applicant to supply updated site plans showing transformer placement, landscaping screening, and confirmation of underground electrical routing, and to coordinate with city peer-review engineers prior to the next hearing.