HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-8-17
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
NEXT MEETING: AUG 24,2001 10 A.M. HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE ROOM
MINUTES OF AUGUST 17,2001 MEETING
1. Meeting was convened by Chair Roger Ernst. All 9 members were present. The
member list now shows Sue Mueller's NYC zipcode 10022. For future ACNVT mailings,
attendees Helene Weld, Trig Cooley and Dick Wolfe were added. Guest speakers present
were designer Neil Parent, current head ofthe Nantucket Builders Association, and
builder Bob Liddle, past NBA president. 7/20/01 minutes were approved for fIling.
2. After those present introduced themselves (several ACNVT members having a
background in construction), Neil Parent named the founders of the NBA and noted its
role at the April 2001 Annual Town Meeting in defeating a proposed extension of the
building cap. (The Bruce Miller zoning amendment article 23, which failed the needed
2/3 by about 40 votes, was to provide a 7-year cap extension from year-end 2001.)
Characterizing the cap as good for lawyers, etc. but not year-rounders, Neil said that
NBA did not oppose a modified cap. While a fmal accord has not been reached through
NBA's participation (with a broad mix of Town and civic reps) in the Growth
Management group, NBA would accept a cap down from 120/year to 84 or even 72 if
smaller houses (less than 2000 SF gross floor area, or even less than 1500 SF) were
exempted. NBA opposes a 10-year covenant restricting occupancy to year-round only but
would accept a bar to seasonal vacation rentals. [An article now proposed for a Special
Town Meeting allows 84 new dwelling units/year, without size limit but requiring 10-
year year-round occupancy.] NBA would allow 2500 SF after a 2-year island residency.
NBA reckons about 9000 homes might be built, added to the present 10,000, but 3000 -
5000 is a better limit over, say, the next 20 years. Limiting million-dollar homes is o.k.,
but smaller homes have the best chance of meeting island needs, at least eventually. The
cap has spurred unneeded building permits. Poor Building Dept. records leave in doubt
the number resulting in occupancy permits. Some recent slowdown is seen with fewer
tradesmen from off-island. Nantucket builders envision a transition to renovations with
fewer lots to develop and consider the construction industry vital to economic wellbeing.
3. After discussion, the Chair appointed Howard Blitman and Bill Sherman to draft a
letter to the Board of Selectmen, copy to the Growth Management Committee, stating
ACNVT views. A decision on the letter will be taken at the next meeting - set for next
Friday morning,.. 10 ,- 11. a.m., 8/24 at the High School conference room /
4. AdjOurned~~~\1~~fespectfullY submitted by ACNVT Secretary, t.Jh ~
MaIled: Copy of~ed PareAi: letter of 7/18/01 and message m 8/01 NBA newsletter.
Town Assessor's FY2001 list, by owners' state, of Town RE tax revenue and
as~sewva~ ~w1Ors' property.
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