Land Bank presents East Creek planting and beach management plan; commissioners raise dog-access concerns

Liz Phelps, representing the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, presented the planting list and a revised sediment and erosion control plan for East Creek, noting seed mixes and coastal bank shrub lists to support dune restoration and protect piping plover habitat. Phelps said the expanded elevated boardwalk areas would receive adjusted seed mixes and that a compost-filter sock (silt sock) location was added to the erosion-control plan after it was omitted from the original submission.

Commissioner Linda asked about dog access on the affected beach, noting historical restrictions (time-of-day limits) at jetties and other beaches and saying that off-leash or unrestricted dog use had been a problem for piping plover habitat and families with small children. "I would absolutely revisit this because it was a problem at the jetties... No dogs were allowed down there at that time during the day," she said, urging the Land Bank to consider stricter controls if necessary.

Phelps said the Land Bank typically allows dogs on leash on its properties but would revisit rules if concerns warranted. "We allow on-leash dogs on our properties. But if this is... a requirement of the area or if there are concerns with that, we can certainly revisit," she said.

Will (staff) stated he is not aware of an enforceable town-wide time-of-day restriction for dogs on town-owned beaches and said that, to his knowledge, such rules have not been enforced. The commission directed staff and the Land Bank to clarify and, if needed, revise beach access and dog-control measures in the beach management plan.

Next steps: staff and the Land Bank will clarify dog-access rules tied to piping-plover protections and ensure the erosion-control measures and planting lists are implemented as required by the relevant order of conditions.