voices: the community speaks of Nantucket and GHYC

TO: THE CITIZENS OF NANTUCKET

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

DATE: March 17, 2004

SUBJECT: Article 88 - 2004 Annual Town Warrant

The goal of CCFUSWSEN has always been to preserve public access to the waterfront and public benefit to the whole community. Our citizen's Article #89 was designed to meet that goal. We have carefully examined the more recent Selectmen's Article #88. Our group is in full support of Selectmen's Article #88 with the understanding that we have been assured that:

• The area known as The Creeks will remain untouched
• Any environmental problems connected with the property will be cleaned up by the Town
• The majority of the existing structures will remain intact but may be improved
• Resident-owned marine businesses will be encouraged to operate on the property as lessees
• The operation of a full service boat yard will continue
• To the maximum extent possible, eelgrass, shellfish and other wildlife habitat will remain preserved
• Any marine traffic to and from that portion of the waterfront to be acquired by eminent domain will pass through the existing channel
• The Nantucket Port Authority will be operated by a representative board of citizens and elected officials.

In discussions with the Board of Selectmen, we have learned that the establishment of a Nantucket Port Authority will provide the community with local control of the entire harbor and waterfront. In our opinion, this proposal, as presently conceived in Article 88, is one of the most important steps that the Town has the opportunity to take to SAVE OUR WATERFRONT, thereby preserving the Island's integrity and way of life.

An appropriately scaled, municipally owned commercial pier, combined with a fully functioning boat yard and other marine related locally owned businesses, is a very desirable use of the Union Street/Washington Street Extension waterfront area, and the positive control and active public access that a locally managed Port will provide over all our waterfront areas will protect important community assets for future generations.

It is extremely important that all voters pay careful attention to further details from the Board of Selectmen about Article 88 and the Nantucket Port Authority, and that we are present on April 12 at Town Meeting to VOTE.

We Concerned Citizens and Friends of the Union Street/Washington Street Extension Neighborhood have conferred with environmentalists, abutters, our Selectmen and other concerned citizens and we strongly recommend that we all

VOTE IN FAVOR of ARTICLE 88.