Planning Board gives positive recommendations on a package of zoning articles and approves small site changes

The Nantucket Planning Board on Jan. 15 recommended a slate of zoning changes for the upcoming town meeting, approved minor site modifications and a safety system installation, and set follow-up steps for one citizen petition.

Votes at a glance
- Minor modification (small retail/gas payment-area addition, ~168 sq ft): Board found it a minor modification not requiring a public hearing and approved it (unanimous on the record). (Motion recorded SEG 179-196.)
- Island Gas, 11 Industry Road: Board found the proposed ~400 sq ft vapor-recovery unit does not materially affect prior findings and does not require a public hearing; motion approved. (SEG 245-263.)
- Two small parcels to Commercial Neighborhood (CN): Positive planning-board recommendation (50% quantum required for this rezoning). (SEG 2190-2201.)
- 1113 & 1115 Road to CI: Positive planning-board recommendation (50% quantum). (SEG 2267-2286.)
- Toscana property (RC2 to CMI): Positive planning-board recommendation passed 4-1 after extended discussion; one member recorded a dissent. Owner Carl confirmed existing special permits will continue to protect current uses. (SEG 2731-2748.)
- Large restaurants in CN (71200 seats): Board voted to recommend allowing them by special permit (two-thirds quantum required); members stressed special-permit review would retain parking/site controls. (SEG 3072-3088.)
- Apartment-building bedroom-waiver tied to SHI listing: Board recommended allowing the planning board to waive the current 8-bedroom cap (but not the 6-unit cap) for buildings placed on the state Subsidized Housing Inventory if 25% of units are deed-restricted; motion passed with 50% quantum noted. Staff emphasized parking rules remain unchanged and that any parking waiver would still require special-permit review. (SEG 3394-3414.)
- Community Land Trust definition: Board recommended adding a definition to the zoning bylaw to allow community land-trust ownership (land retained by trust, houses owned via long-term proprietary leases) subject to year-round/attainable deed restrictions; two-thirds quantum recorded. (SEG 3623-3638.)

Continued item
- Zoning map amendment for a carve-off at 3 Toombs Court (citizen petition by Timothy McClure): Board continued the petition to February 2 to allow petitioners to work with staff on volunteered use restrictions and to provide a draft enforceable agreement for the board and town counsel to review. (SEG 783-796.)

Context and comment
Board members repeatedly emphasized the need to make the warrant materials and motions clear for voters, and staff said town council will review final text and the select board is set to adopt the warrant next Wednesday. Board members asked for an implementation date or explicit grandfathering language where changes could affect owners with active plans.

Whatcomes next
Staff will circulate finalized zoning text after town-counsel edits and return to the board with any amended language. The Planning Board's recommendations will be included in the printed warrant and presented to town meeting voters per the usual schedule.