Nantucket advisory committee highlights town-meeting resiliency wins, flags contested bluff licensing vote

The Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee (CRAC) met May 12 and reviewed results from the town meeting, reporting a series of approvals that CRAC members said advance the island’s coastal resilience work. Committee staff said voters approved $1,000,000 for resiliency planning and $2,000,000 for a dredge plan and sediment budget; the committee also noted a $500,000 allocation for resiliency improvements at the Surfside wastewater treatment facility.

Leah, who presented the committee’s quarterly report, said the committee had also supported and recommended that the Select Board send a support letter for the Steamship Authority’s federal BUILD grant application. “You all supported a recommendation to the Select Board to send a support letter in for that grant application,” she said.

Why it matters: The planning funds and dredge budget give town staff resources to refine designs, complete permitting and pursue construction on priority projects CRAC listed in its coastal resilience plan. Committee members said the wastewater funding will support near-term resilience options and the development of alternatives for the Surfside facility.

CRAC members also discussed an article that failed at town meeting. “Article 73, the license agreement with SPPF, that was not passed,” Leah reported, and the committee learned CRAC member Vince will meet with town administration in coming weeks to determine next steps. Members said the vote was close and could prompt further coordination or negotiation with SPPF and other stakeholders.

Member Matt warned of the complexity ahead. “This is a huge policy change,” he said, calling for cooperative planning to avoid contentious takings or litigation and noting that neither alternative nor emergency access routes are yet fully planned.

Votes at a glance (as reported to CRAC):
- Article 10 — $2,000,000 dredge funds and $1,000,000 resiliency planning: passed.
- Article 19 — $500,000 for wastewater-resiliency work at Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility: passed.
- Article 71 — stormwater bylaw: passed (not called for discussion).
- Article 42 — mandatory zoning bylaw update: passed.
- Article 73 — license agreement with SPPF (geotubes/extension license): failed; town administration will follow up.

Members said several of the wins were not heavily debated at the meeting and suggested that the narrow defeat of Article 73 reflected strong local engagement and competing views about shoreline licensing and beach-protection techniques. The committee recommended tracking next steps on the SPPF licensing issue, pursuing the supported BUILD grant, and using the approved planning funds to accelerate project design and public outreach.

The committee will send its notes to the Select Board and monitor implementation; the next CRAC meeting is scheduled for May 26 at 10 a.m.