Quincy zoning board approves three residential projects, continues one for redesign and neighborhood review

The Quincy Zoning Board on July 14 approved several residential conversions and additions and agreed to continue one application so the applicant could revise plans and meet with neighbors.

Chair Marty Akins opened the meeting and the board first voted to waive the reading of minutes from the June 23 meeting before taking up new business.

Philip Baker asked the board to allow work at 182 5th (Phillips) Street to remove a dilapidated front portico, rebuild a new covered landing in the same footprint and add a second‑floor primary suite. Baker said the project keeps existing setbacks and “we’re not changing setbacks, we’re just going straight up over the existing footprint.” A board member questioned whether the proposal effectively created a second dwelling and urged Baker to consider an addition or an accessory dwelling unit instead. After discussion the board moved to allow the petition.

Counsel Rob Fleming represented a separate proposal for 7 Wheaton Place to demolish a rear garage and construct a three‑story single‑family dwelling with an under‑structure two‑car garage. Fleming said the lot is small and the proposal responds to an existing accessory structure; he also said the applicant’s intent was family housing. Board members pressed whether a smaller single‑story ADU or an addition might better meet neighborhood concerns. Fleming asked for and the board granted a continuance so the team could revise plans, hold another neighborhood meeting and provide updated drawings; the hearing was continued to Sept. 22, 2026.

The board also considered a special‑permit request for 74 Elm Street to convert the former Sweeney funeral home into three residential units with six on‑site parking spaces. Fleming told the board the project had peer review and city department sign‑offs and emphasized measures to protect the nearby brook. A letter from Ward Councilor Richard Ash read into the record warned that six spaces “are not enough for parking for 3 units” and said delivery trucks could block access; the applicant said neighborhood meetings had been held and that the design was revised to retain residential character. The board voted to allow the special permit and related flood‑plain relief.

Finally, attorney Patrick Foley and Brian Donahue of Donahue Architects presented a plan for 190 Franklin Street: renovate the front Victorian unit, add a rear duplex and retain a large Japanese maple tree while providing 10 parking spaces across the site. Donahue said the project seeks relief for lot area and floor‑area ratio (he cited a project FAR of 0.6 versus a bylaw limit of 0.4) and described efforts to preserve the tree with pervious pavers and a revised layout after neighborhood meetings. The board approved the plan with conditions, including submission of a landscape plan and modifying the third floor to include a half bath rather than a full bath.

Votes at a glance - ZBA 26‑22 (182 Phillips/5th St., Philip Baker): motion to allow petition — approved. - CDA 26‑23 (7 Wheaton Place): continued to Sept. 22, 2026 for plan revisions and a neighborhood meeting — continued. - ZVU 2624 (74 Elm St., special permit/flood‑plain relief): motion to allow petition — approved. - CBA 26‑26 (190 Franklin St., Foley/Donahue): motion to accept subject to landscape plan and a third‑floor half bath — approved.

What officials said “Essentially the existing front portico is already kind of fallen off the house…so we’re gonna rebuild that,” Philip Baker told the board when describing work at 182 5th Street.

Rob Fleming, counsel for multiple applicants, said of the Elm Street project: “The only thing I'm requesting from this zoning board this evening is a special permit flood plain, because it is in a flood plain.”

Brian Donahue, the Franklin Street architect, described the team’s approach to preserving a large Japanese maple on site: “We’re keeping that tree as part of this development.”

Next steps Applicants granted continuances must return with revised plans and evidence of neighborhood outreach on the appointed date. The board closed the session after voting and adjourned.