HomeMy WebLinkAbout2dDU2007_201401211454507603ADVISORY COMMITTEE O
OWN & COUNTY BUILD
ANTUCKET MA 02554
F NO
ING
NVOTING TAXPAYERS
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September 20, 2007
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Board of Selectmen
own & County Buildi T
Nantucket MA 02554
With welcomed guidance this summer from various members of your Board, we
have given particular attention to the scarcity of affordable housing for those year‐
round islanders vital to the economic and civic life of Nantucket. Development
ressures, even with the current leveling off, sharply limit the options to assure p
long‐term affordability.
Secondary dwellings, since first allowed under zoning, were envisioned as an
portant way to address this housing need. A key passage of the Zoning Code [in im
Section 139‐7A(2)] reads:
“‐‐‐ The principal purpose of secondary dwellings is to create housing opportunities
through the provision of affordable rental housing for year‐round residents, ‐‐‐.” The
tated counterpart of that purpose is the owner’s opportunity to generate s
supplemental income.
or many Nantucket residents, we understand that income opportunity is critical to F
making ends meet, the sad alternative often being relocation off island.
We view sustaining a robust island‐based workforce as vital to our (summer
resident) interests. For our sake as well as for the year‐round folks who need
ousing opportunities, we believe the purpose and intent of allowing secondary h
dwellings need a boost.
So we ask that you, with support of the Planning Department and hopefully
embers of the bar conversant with zoning, consider adding to that Code section
ng:
m
next Annual Town Meeting, after the recitals of purpose and intent, the followi
‐‐‐ For any new secondary dwelling use in the Country Overlay District not in
onformity with the foregoing purpose and intent, such use shall be allowable only
ppeals. ‐‐‐
c
by special permit from the Board of A
The next sentence would then read:
“Any secondary dwelling shall be permitted only under the following conditions: “
[conditions (a), (b), etc. follow unchanged]
If we understand correctly, the change we propose would have no adverse effect
upon owners and occupants of existing secondary dwellings, just the new uses. In
ct, an indirect benefit might arise for existing secondary dwellings and a direct fa
benefit would go to potential year‐round renters.
We think the existing statement of purpose for secondary dwellings should be
enlarged to include use by members of the same (extended) family that resides in
e primary dwelling. That could have the hoped‐for effect of encouraging two th
smaller dwellings for the family, rather than one very large country house.
We realize that, for many voters, there is strong opposition to any attempted curb
on constructing a secondary dwelling and we respect that. But we also respect the
tention of Nantucket voters in spelling out the purpose and intent of secondary
we value the many benefits of heeding that purpose.
in
dwellings and
Respectfully,
dvisory Committee of Nonvoting Taxpayers
A
oward Blitman, Chair
H