voices: the community speaks of Nantucket and GHYC

David Wiley
68 Union Street, Nantucket, MA

June 16, 2004

Nantucket Historic District Commission
37 Washington Street
Nantucket, MA 02554

Dear Board Members and Staff,

Attached is a copy of the site plan, which shows the existing grades and the proposed grades. On two occasions the Applicant has stated that there are no grade changes proposed on this site. This plan clearly shows the information provided as inaccurate. The retaining walls shown are integral to the Clubhouse, Pool Building, and pool and therefore need to be applied for.

The parking lot now placed in front of the new main structure will be filled.

I have attached two pages that I believe are relevant to these applications as well. They address lighting and building location relative to parking.

The other information provided is relative to the flood plain construction. The V-zone is indicated on the 2'x3' engineered plan and, as requested by Val Norton, and shows that the building could me moved out of this zone and therefore lowered to grade or as a minimum all portions outside of the V-zone could be at grade. Please refer to Massachusetts Building code sections attached that allow for Water-resistant construction (3107.5.4) the only use group that cannot apply for this exception is use group R, (residential).

I believe that previous applicants concerned with height and scale of surrounding areas i.e. Annye's, Henry's, and the Nantucket Steamship Authority have used these methods to maintain new structures with historical pedestrian scale and relationships to the street, lot and surrounding context. Please consider this option as a method of renovation of existing or replacement of new structures on this site.

If this developer would rehab the existing structures, rather than demolish and re build there would be no need to raise the current floor elevations. This seems to be the most appropriate plan as it preserves scale and footprints and does not destroy the neighborhood scale and fabric of this small remote neighborhood.

Sarah Alger stated at this week's planning board meeting that the HDC wanted similar massing to what currently exists on the site. She then proceeded to display a model showing much larger buildings, a relocation of the boatyard use across the street, and a new commercial use with 100 parking spaces. What currently exists are smaller building masses, simpler, and much more utilitarian structures. And at this point in time the only structures that presently exist on the non-waterside of this property is a single family home. It would seem appropriate that if the developer wants large masses they should work to renovate and repair the existing structures in their present location. This type of approach would be much more in keeping with Nantucket's history and the neighborhood context, and would reflect this Board's commitment to preserving Nantucket's structures which reflect the past while allowing for adaptive and modern re-use.

It seems ironic that this Board has spent the last 6-8 months working with a waterfront property owner to reduce size, massing, scale and overall impact of his design for a new home in an attempt to have the plans be more in keeping with the existing neighborhood. Yet this board appears ready to grant an approval of a massive out-of-scale project within sight of the above mentioned project.

Thanks for your efforts and considerable time with this project.

Best regards,

David R. Wiley