We will be proposing a series of zoning changes to the downtown district to the City Council tonight, marking another step forward in our plans for a new Quincy Center.

The most notable change will allow the Planning Board to issue a special permit for buildings as high as 20 stories, five stories more than the current regulations.  Other changes, including giving the Planning Board the authority over parking issues in Quincy Center, are meant largely to match our zoning code with our Urban Renewal Plan, which is the framework guiding the redevelopment downtown.

We believe the additional height makes the project economically viable and ultimately creates more tax revenue. Quincy Center is exactly where we want taller buildings, and any 20-story buildings included in the plan will be centralized in the district, away from any nearby neighborhoods.  And keep in mind, the new law would only give the Planning Board the authority to issue a special permit, not guarantee anything by right.