ZBA approves relocation of house in Moorlands district with tight environmental and deed conditions

The Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit on Feb. 12 to relocate a dwelling within the Moorlands Management District to address coastal erosion, subject to a series of environmental and recordation conditions.

Attorney Arthur Reed reviewed revisions since the matter’s previous hearings: the applicant shifted a driveway 14 feet closer to the relocated house, reduced deck area and eliminated a proposed southerly deck, narrowed a path to the beach to 24 inches, and relocated a generator under a shed. Reed said the team worked with environmental consultants including Brian Madden of LEC Environmental and Ryan Maxwell of Bracken Engineering to reduce disturbance and conform to prior conservation conditions.

Board members complimented the applicant for reducing disturbance and narrowing the path through previously disturbed areas. Conditions adopted with the motion include recording a covenant at the Nantucket Registry of Deeds that Lot 26 remain vacant and unbuildable; submittal of a revegetation plan for Lot 26 detailing post‑disturbance restoration; a prohibition on imported fill or topsoil (all fill to originate on‑site); no grade change; and a requirement that revegetation conform to approvals from Natural Heritage and the Conservation Commission.

The board said the relocation and associated work must substantially conform to the submitted site plan prepared by Alan M. Grady dated Jan. 22, 2026, and to the HDC certificate of appropriateness (HDC2024‑09‑1138). The motion to approve the special permit and associated conditions passed by roll call: Lisa Botticelli, Jim Adeni, John Brescher, Alisa Allen and Chair Susan McCarthy voted in favor.

Reed thanked the board for its feedback; staff will ensure the technical and revegetation exhibits are included as decision exhibits before permits are issued. The board noted the item’s compliance obligations with Natural Heritage/ConCom and required the applicants to meet any related permit conditions.