Nantucket boards weigh $69.8M in bonds, housing purchases, and utility hearings in busy July stretch
Nantucket's town boards and commissions covered a wide range of business in the week of July 7–18, 2026, from a proposed $69.8 million in borrowing to affordable housing purchases, sign reviews, and cemetery lot sales. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet confirmed in the public record.
Select Board: $19.62M bonds and $50.23M notes on the table
The Select Board's July 8 agenda included approval of $19,620,000 in general obligation bonds and $50,229,504 in bond anticipation notes covering general fund, sewer, water, affordable housing, airport, and solid waste projects. The same agenda listed four town employee housing leases: 4 Mayhew Rd ($72,000), 32 Sparks Ave ($55,890), 36 Pine St ($39,600), and 2 Nobadeer Way ($52,800). Recognition of retiring employees Fernella Phillips, Debra Bechtold, Lt. Daniel Mack, and Lt. Brendan Coakley, and swearing-in of new police officers, were also scheduled. An update on the investigation of African Meeting House vandalism was listed.
A July 13 Select Board agenda included only a Finance Department request to approve FY2026 year-end budget transfers. A separate July 13 meeting at the Nantucket Atheneum Great Hall, 1 India Street, listed participation in the Nantucket Civic League Annual Summer Forum.
Affordable Housing Trust: property purchases and trust amendment
The Affordable Housing Trust's July 7 agenda included a Third Amendment to the Declaration of Trust, a mortgage discharge for 1 Webster Road, withdrawal from registration of property at 158 Madaket Road, and a contract with SMRT, Inc for a building assessment of 14 Somerset Road. An executive session was scheduled to consider real property at 7 Dooley Court, 8A Thirty Acres Lane, and 135-137 Orange Street.
Zoning Board of Appeals: Surfside Crossing curbing question
The ZBA's July 9 agenda asked whether switching from vertical granite to concrete curbing at the 13.6-acre Surfside Crossing project at 3, 5, 7, 9 South Shore Road (Map 67 parcels 336, 336.9, 336.8, 336.7) is an insubstantial change to a comprehensive permit, which could avoid a public hearing. Also listed: a special permit and variance for a net-zero lot line change at 11 & 12 Jonathan Way to install a septic system in the LUG-3 zone, and a variance for a 160-square-foot swimming pool at 13 Fawn Lane in the R-5 zone.
Historic District Commission: new dwelling at 25 Nobadeer Ave
The HDC's July 7 agenda included a new dwelling application at 25 Nobadeer Ave (Seven Dials Nant LLC), demolition and new garage consents at 5 Huckleberry Ln (Sunshine Daydream LLC), rooftop solar at 19 Cato Ln, and a fence/gate at 38 Lovers Ln (B'Whale, LLC). A July 14 HDC agenda listed old business for eight properties, including fenestration changes at 4 S Mill St, a new dwelling at 2 Sea St, a pool at 3 Pops Ln, and a garage addition at 28 Lily St.
Cemetery Commission: Juneteenth markers and lot sales
The July 8 Cemetery Commission agenda included a ceremony at the Coloured Cemetery unveiling markers for Absalom Boston and Hannah Cook Boston on Juneteenth, election of officers, and approval of lot sales at Polpis Cemetery: Lot J31 to Jannett Rose Hudson and G2 to Sofia Leiburg. Updates on the Monument Restoration Project at New North Cemetery and the legal status of Newtown Cemetery were listed.
Airport Commission: contracts and public hearing
The July 14 Airport Commission agenda included a public hearing to amend rules on ramp parking and APU use, a security system maintenance contract with Pavion Connect and Protect for $227,500.00, an ARFF vehicle maintenance contract with Cox Aviation for $509,052.00, a LYFT, Inc. lease extension with a $3.25 per originating fare trip fee, and FY2028 capital project requests. The July 10 Aviation Fuel Subcommittee agenda listed discussion items only, including a fuel farm engineering task order and MEPA hardship waiver consideration.
Conservation Commission: dredging and development notices
The July 16 Conservation Commission agenda listed public hearings on Notices of Intent for 73 Hulbert Avenue, 27 Nonantum Avenue, Polpis Harbor & Hither Creek dredging (Town of Nantucket), and 27 Osprey Way, plus an amended order of conditions for 7 North Gully Road.
Other boards and committees
The Water Commissioners (July 9) listed reviews of water quality, drought conditions, and storm/waste water projects. The Finance Committee (July 13) listed 33B transfers, reserve fund transfers, and election of a chair and vice chair. The Planning Board (July 13) listed discussion of the 2027 Annual Town Meeting and re-advertisement of a public hearing for 30 North Beach Street. The Cannabis Advisory Committee (July 16) listed discussion of DEA rescheduling from Schedule I to III, state cannabis reform legislation, and social consumption. The Board of Health (July 16) listed a continued appeal of a sewer connection order at 49 Polpis Road and a septic system design revision at 13 Woodland Drive. The Parks and Recreation Commission (July 16) listed FY'28 capital projects including Winter Park playground renovation and Delta Baseball Fields upgrades. The Land Bank Commission (July 14) listed a Horsley Witten Group contract amendment and construction services contract for 8 Wesco Place/Lily Pond Park, plus Tom Nevers Bike Path funding discussion. The Tree Advisory Committee (July 15) listed Liberty Tree Project follow-up and pest updates. The Historical Commission (July 17) listed West Monomoy and Brant Point/Cliffside survey updates. The Advisory Committee of Non-voting Taxpayers (July 18) listed continued discussion of a year-round resident property tax exemption increase, with Town Manager Libby Gibson as guest speaker.
Coming up
- **July 20 — Select Board:** Public hearings on utility petitions for Nobadeer Farm Road, Gray Avenue, Fairgrounds Road, and Sparks Avenue, plus car rental medallion applications.
- **July 21 — Community Preservation Committee:** Review of $122,538 in fund requisitions, including Main Street Streetscapes Survey ($50,000), W. Monomoy Neighborhood Survey Phase 1 ($60,000), and Interfaith Council May Rental Assistance ($12,538.00).
- **July 21 — Historic District Commission:** 43 new business applications for permits, including Nantucket Golf Club gate house and hardscape projects.
- **July 22 — Select Board:** Pending contracts and grant agreements ($10,000–$100,000), a petition to designate Egan Lane as a public road, an amendment to raise the Affordable Housing Trust Fund AMI limit to 250 percent, and a historic-preservation restriction for 6 Broadway.
- **July 22 — County Commission:** Public hearing on eminent domain for easements on Tom Nevers Road from Milestone Road to Tom Nevers Park for a multi-use path.