The Quincy Planning Board voted Jan. 15 to close the public hearing on a NeighborWorks housing proposal at 15, 152 and 156 Quincy Street and approved the application while directing city planning staff to prepare a formal favorable recommendation for the board’s next business meeting.

Why it matters: The project, led by NeighborWorks (a long‑standing nonprofit housing developer in Quincy), seeks state financing and a parking waiver. The board’s action advances the proposal toward permitting while requiring the department to complete peer‑review responses and formalize recommended conditions intended to limit construction impacts and ensure long‑term maintenance.

What the applicants said

Edward Fleming, the project attorney, said the team revised drawings in response to peer review and city department comments and that NeighborWorks has a state funding application due next month. Architect Mike Rauner and civil engineer Jim Burke described revisions including relocation of a dumpster area, a lowered handicap ramp to improve slope tolerance, additional landscaping and screening along Quincy Street, and modifications to grading and sidewalk details.

What neighbors and officials said

Resident Cindy DeBama, an owner of two properties behind the site, asked about dumpster placement, pickup frequency and rodent control during demolition. The applicant said there will be twice‑weekly pickup and that a full rodent control plan will be submitted to and reviewed by the Quincy Health Department; the group said it had already discussed baiting stations and would increase measures during demolition. Councilor Dave McCarthy (Ward 1) and other speakers expressed support for replacing the deteriorated nursing‑home properties with housing and for additional streetscape improvements.

What the department required

Deputy Director Stevens (planning department staff) told the board the department had not completed a formal recommendation because one last traffic comment letter was outstanding but that the project team had addressed most peer review items and that staff was comfortable closing the public hearing and preparing a recommendation. The approval given by the board is conditioned on standard items the department read into the record, including:

- Compliance with the City of Quincy Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (application to the Affordable Housing Trust required before building permits);
- A construction management plan and sequence of construction to address staging and traffic impacts;
- Health Department‑approved rodent control and dust control plans prior to any demolition or site activity;
- Stormwater and sewer televising inspections where required; and
- Sidewalk, curbing and other public‑realm improvements as directed by the Department of Public Works.

Board action and next steps

The board voted unanimously to approve the application and to direct the department to draft a favorable recommendation and present it at the Feb. 19 meeting for finalization (staff will prepare the written recommendation and any outstanding technical responses before that meeting). The board noted the project previously appeared before the Affordable Housing Trust and received a positive outcome there, a point raised by a planning‑department speaker who identified herself as chair of the Affordable Housing Trust and said the trust had performed its own due diligence.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Dumpster pickup: applicant stated twice‑weekly pickup will be scheduled; exact contractor not specified.
- Rodent control: a written plan, including licensed pest‑control operator contact information and monitoring frequency, must be submitted to and approved by the Quincy Health Department prior to site activity.
- Population served: project leader said many future residents will be transitioning from homelessness and may not bring private vehicles; staff noted this when discussing the parking waiver.
- Financing: NeighborWorks has a state funding application pending and needs permitting progress to support financing discussions.

Ending

The Planning Board’s vote advances the NeighborWorks Quincy Street project while requiring the planning department to finalize technical reviews and a written recommendation for the board to consider at its next business meeting.