voices: the community speaks of Nantucket and GHYC

CONCERNED CITIZENS AND FRIENDS OF THE UNION STREET/WASHINGTON STREET EXTENSION NEIGHBORHOOD
c/o Jim Nettles, 64 Union Street, Nantucket, MA 02554

To: Andrew Vorce and Members of the Planning Board:

Date : November 26, 2003

Subject: Ownership / Control, Great Harbor Yacht Club, Inc. Parcels in Proposed Plan

At the meeting of the Planning Board on the night of November 24, 2003, the issue was raised, that the Applicant, to the best of our knowledge and belief, does not own or control all the parcels of land which are included in the application for redevelopment to a Yacht Club. The question was raised by the Board that if anyone had information to substantiate that the applicant did not own or have control of all parcels in the development application, that that information be provided. Unfortunately the issue was not able to be dealt with at the meeting, as time did not permit. We were invited, however, to send a letter to the Staff to be forwarded to the Planning Board members, illustrating our concerns that the applicant, Great Harbor Yacht Club, Inc. does not own or control several parcels of land which are part of their application.

MAP 55.1.4, PARCEL 9.2, TOWN OF NANTUCKET

At the south side of the property, at the "travel lift way" some of this land appears to be owned by the Town of Nantucket (Map 55.1.4, Parcel 9.2). This land was part of a parcel of land taken by Eminent Domain "for the purposes and maintenance of tidal marshes" and recorded in book 130, page 79 on December 9, 1966 (see attached deed.)

MAP 55.1.4, PARCELS 7.1 and 6.1

There is a condominium property known as the Todd Building which contains, to the best our knowledge and belief, two parcels (Map 55.1.4, Parcel 7.1, Map 55.1.4, Parcel 6.1). These parcels figure prominently in this proposal for a conversion to a yacht club.

Two residential units of this condominium and the commercial unit known as Annye's exist as improvements on these two parcels. Therefore, there are three owners of land and/or improvements who do not appear on the application.

There is an access easement for the benefit of the Todd Building which crosses the land owned by Great Harbor Yacht Club, Inc, on the land formerly owned by Nautican Realty Trust, where much of the land which is proposed to be used for parking for the Yacht Club, is land on which a previous access easement was granted (see attached plot plan with easement information.)

Neither the Town or County of Nantucket, nor Sweet Mango, Inc. nor the Spinelli family are party to, or applicants for this Plan for Major Commercial Development. It is has been reported that Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Drexler as individuals. both have a contract on the residential portions of the Todd Building Condominium, but neither of these individuals are named as applicants. As of November 23rd, Nancy Camera of Annye's stated that there was no deal yet with Mr. McCarthy. Representations are being made as to proposed Yacht Club policies and procedures for operations and use which involve these properties, which the developer does not, to the best of our knowledge, currently own or otherwise control.

The result therefore would be deliberations by the Planning Board and the investment of time and energy by abutters and other residents as well as groups such as ours only to discover that the entire process may have to be repeated. Ideally, the Planning Board should address the proposals of an applicant which owns and or irrevocably controls the property and/or improvements which are included in the proposed development scheme.

We urge you to stop all deliberations in this matter until the developer can demonstrate irrevocable control of all parcels involved or re-submits his Plan for a Major Commercial Development for only properties for which he has irrevocable control.

Moncure Chatfield-Taylor
On behalf of the CCFUSWSEN