[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6387074,"mediaKeyId","2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d","parentId",2117128,"title","Select Board debates how to regulate peer‑to‑peer car sharing; direction to draft a registration path","audioSeconds",7191,"startMs",3319000,"endMs",10510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d&start=3319&end=10510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d/thumbnail_3319000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6387074/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-debates-how-to-regulate-peertopeer-car-sharing-direction-to-draft-a-registration-path","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387074-6ece4c8eb81c8013dd429b41e6141805/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165171&Signature=nhEzS4reEi0kt4Qmjg-N~KLO4sMel1sSKebXa7pLdcv7fanLRwj4QQhxZnlfQ8g0Kx-c5OWsutwJcp5PN9S1ri5UATcxq~e5MP4yVQ31T96Fxd9QTT1Z5h6pPqW2LSauIBIHHWT7ZS5hMmbv-6byDpVCMXyRjLPzutaV0NBFyLFt0gtm3aIdJN1HOhjZngtGvv6HE2KIC4AEvWHfyEuz8CMVeOEeNuYahwwbsLk4HPnFwC~ZG8B7oo0kjCRWhBp0VEgYbXdfC8mRd2Yb2TbiE1YPRpogyCNrimdDH8x6tVx2IZXFzRNrnlj~8Fn9-oDBY-HHEIL0FyiOusnRAsB~xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-01-02T19:00:07Z","article","Select Board members, town counsel, the airport commission chair, police leadership and public speakers debated whether peer‑to‑peer car sharing should be treated like traditional rental agencies subject to Nantucket’s medallion cap, or handled in a separate registration system.

Steven Cohen (representing peer‑to‑peer interests) argued for exempting peer‑to‑peer hosts from the car‑rental medallion regime and instead using registration to monitor activity, citing that many hosts are individual residents who use the income to meet household needs. “Peer‑to‑peer car sharing…does not increase the number of cars on Nantucket; in fact, it lowers them,” Cohen said. Supporters said platforms can enforce airport rules and collect airport fees under private agreements.

Opponents — including several Select Board members, airport representatives and law‑enforcement officials — said the activity has already grown into small commercial operations with multiple vehicles that occupy public parking and strain resources. Art Gasparro, chair of the Airport Commission, said many airport tenants are traditional rental agencies and warned that unmanaged peer‑to‑peer growth can harm the public interest and airport operations.

Chief Jody Casper told the board the police department lacks bandwidth for web‑based enforcement during peak season and that monitoring would likely require dedicated enforcement staff or seasonal positions if the town regulates peer‑to‑peer activity. Town counsel and staff discussed several near‑term options: (1) treat peer‑to‑peer as rental agencies subject to the medallion cap, (2) create a separate registration/sticker system limited to small hosts (for example, one vehicle per household) with a numerical cap, or (3) delay local action and wait for pending state regulatory action.

After extended discussion the board asked town counsel to prepare draft language that would create a separate registration regime for peer‑to‑peer hosts (including a possible sticker/registration and numerical limit) while the town reconciles medallion use and unused medallions. Counsel was also asked to explore whether a small number of existing unused medallions can be reallocated. The board’s indicated direction was to develop a regulatory path that (a) allows limited household hosts, (b) provides a mechanism to recapture and reassign unused medallions, and (c) preserves enforcement options for the police and airport.

Why this matters: peer‑to‑peer car sharing intersects land use, public‑way management, airport operations and local business licensing. The Select Board’s near‑term decision will affect parking, neighborhood impacts, airport revenues and how small hosts are treated under town rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Select Board - January 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Select Board debated whether peer‑to‑peer car sharing should fall under the town’s car‑rental medallion system or be regulated separately; counsel was asked to draft a registration approach that limits household hosts while addressing unused medallions.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6387078,"Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee reports progress on Francis Street, Easy Street and asks for $50,000 for grant consultants",919,811000,1730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d&start=811&end=1730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d/thumbnail_811000.jpg","/articles/6387078/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Coastal-Resilience-Advisory-Committee-reports-progress-on-Francis-Street-Easy-Street-and-asks-for-50000-for-grant-consultants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387078-b0492ca3b16c031689235d17494ec57d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165171&Signature=JHpJRkv4C2GJk8xFRtsJiN3yFGGGqlsucE7XQ~RIAKFZU0XGJ7LN5rkE4sRjhrYQiYXwBxKfSgnhDnhRlf1wYRCGmuIAtkhGj5g-1zoB173XEQHS3nQE9cMpF0-XKe99C15k2QL307zsGIoIKYDTM1GHT3iKcQI42Fdd73co~nUDh~fUtWu-BkSiLlh9NXg2vuT~wNUJFULgs5pjDLUe7AOdIX2ewHTg4QOacJXrqs9vfnuFSUUgbaGqupOCOUTyGeoG2jEkJ1DDnBN1ngO~qul6tX4ClpNQfI-WZI8bZhWHkgpCo3jWTaYwsCYQGW~tU9RQkeDXBHFsMWzMSKzCkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leah Hill, the town’s Coastal Resilience Coordinator, told the Select Board the Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee (CRAC) finished predesign work for the Francis Street Beach Improvement Project and will move toward schematic design this spring. Hill said public engagement produced dozens of attendees and recorded virtual sessions for those who could not attend.

CRAC is also advancing the Easy Street flood mitigation project. Hill said the consultant Arcadis developed five concept alternatives and plans a second virtual open house in mid‑March to gather feedback on concept design options.

CRAC members highlighted use of Climate Central’s Flood Vision imagery to make future coastal flooding more tangible. Hill described Flood Vision’s use of Massachusetts Coastal Flood Risk Model (MCFRM) data for a 2050 1% (100‑year) storm scenario and shared example visuals showing road and storefront inundation levels.

The committee reported progress on its recommendations: roughly half of the plan’s 40 recommendations are underway, in development, or complete. CRAC also recommended changes to zoning and building-code approaches to discourage investment in the highest-risk areas. Shannon Holst (Cape Cod Cooperative Extension/Woods Hole Sea Grant) briefed the committee on floodplain mapping and model‑bylaw language CRAC could adapt for future zoning work.

On funding, CRAC discussed several mechanisms including a special-purpose stabilization fund and a revolving account. Town counsel John Giorgio told the committee these ideas need vetting with the finance director; CRAC plans a letter to the Select Board outlining next steps. Hill asked the Select Board to add $50,000 for grant consultants to the Natural Resources Department fiscal year 2026 budget to pursue state and federal grants for coastal resilience construction; committee members said the Coastal Resilience Planning Fund could supply planning‑phase costs.

Why this matters: CRAC’s work translates climate science into near-term projects and policy options. The committee is advancing designs that would reduce flood risk in the short term while seeking funding streams for construction. The Select Board asked staff to continue interdepartmental coordination and to prioritize permitting and funding analyses for near-term projects.","The Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee (CRAC) updated the Select Board on two active projects — Francis Street Beach improvements and Easy Street flood mitigation — showcased Flood Vision visualizations, and recommended money for grant-writing support to pursue construction funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6387083,"Select Board endorses Baxter Road alternative-access design; phase 1 cost estimated at about $24 million",2210,1800000,4010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d&start=1800&end=4010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d/thumbnail_1800000.jpg","/articles/6387083/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-endorses-Baxter-Road-alternative-access-design-phase-1-cost-estimated-at-about-24-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387083-7d023894899e688fc8b5c60c7cc73418/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165171&Signature=lBbyPN96M6bVzcm2KwFVo5PuHppb8wDX2StBtaJa~LyR1DW404sbQUmz0PaVfc-xdUCYAV5zEIjPwUvQeUgWFcmMrTrRbpZEIQ3smkOkPaulEX6Cf031fQK69lAzw6A3qYEim0MEZ88KxirqGJrWsSAiX4ycU9f2pFECDsN8-TisGY4I2gOXOjicqg3LjHFVdauoqUCozGzipc0wOrP8hivIxNEaTn2cAJQXu8lv4htaGy~K2YEduZCwjJKZbNuhIJFJgHX9VA83dOpNyjW2SoqXRTj1lzVc5ofkUvM3Mj0IHR~Qn8AOZhPt~-YNERZaFV0got2o-PiuYkO3mMI33w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board voted to endorse the 100% design for an alternative access to the Baxter Road neighborhood, a project Arcadis estimates will cost about $24 million for the first construction phase.

The endorsement, made by motion and approved by roll call, clears the way for permitting and further negotiations on permanent and temporary easements needed for utilities and access. Arcadis project manager Bill Casey told the board the firm has completed archaeological and topographic surveys and refined route alignments after property-owner feedback. “We are at 100% design and pretty much ready to put this out on the street whenever the town is ready,” Casey said.

Town staff and board members emphasized that securing the necessary easements and completing permitting remain obstacles. Vince Murphy, project manager from the Natural Resources Department, said the town will seek most permits this spring and that the town has received preliminary indications from about 65% of permitting bodies; he estimated permissions could ultimately reach about 80–85%. Murphy outlined two types of easements that will be required: temporary construction easements and permanent utility or access easements that may attach to deeds.

Murphy and other staff described a likely funding path that relies on town capital to build the project, with post-construction betterments charged to benefiting properties. “The town would have to come up with the initial funding through an appropriation,” Murphy said. He and others noted the project may rely on a debt exclusion at Town Meeting and then betterments spread over roughly 20 years to recover private shares; town staff estimated the town’s retained share could be small but has not been finalized.

Board members and the public pressed staff on cost and fairness. The current construction estimate for phase 1 is about $24 million; staff said a broader phase 2 concept could bring the total toward $36 million. Select Board members warned the figure will prompt pushback and asked that staff not present final homeowner betterment figures until permitting and easement negotiations narrow project impacts. A member of the public asked why the town would pay to “save houses” when shorelines are changing; staff replied that state rules and existing service obligations make it difficult to decline to provide utilities or access in some cases.

Project schedule in Arcadis materials shows the design posted to the town website and a construction window that would begin after a 2026 Town Meeting appropriation; Arcadis said construction is expected to last about two years once funded. Casey said the team will focus on permitting and easement negotiation in the coming months so the project can be “shovel ready” when funding is approved.

The board’s vote was recorded by roll call with all members voting yes.

Why this matters: the Baxter Road alternative access is both a coastal resilience and infrastructure project. It adds water and sewer, restores access, and creates a legal framework for long-term maintenance; it also raises major policy questions about how small communities pay for infrastructure in high-risk coastal areas.","The Select Board unanimously endorsed a final design for an alternative access to the Baxter Road neighborhood prepared by Arcadis, advancing the project toward permitting and a possible 2026 Town Meeting funding vote. The board and staff discussed easements, permitting, and a likely betterment funding model.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6387064,"Votes at a glance: Select Board approves minutes/warrants, accepts gifts, and endorses Baxter Road design",0,688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d&start=688&end=688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d/thumbnail_688000.jpg","/articles/6387064/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Select-Board-approves-minuteswarrants-accepts-gifts-and-endorses-Baxter-Road-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387064-fd6a4788aa2b7af1dac4b528512a0d7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165171&Signature=Vq4yHzXTIskTAPh5Wud3puSYozLramYf~1k-F7cowr5oBrso6fGhD7-Uo5iAs~3cKPAbDZ~shr45-40M8sRsHgX1-qaGPLLjb1RESeBonTJMEHyskkvV~VsyQUuPENqz5Q-3PEyeAR3-2ZOj9FVFGZznPNgQLlyQzMESOhmgsuz9ugor2RyR-cWbU5-WJpV9k8eQ2lBYTdGgx2OKS5pjDllQm2ft705Nms8vrlds5s2xOKHmDXyl2yUUeWSyorQl5h4YEF-osNKmbn22lM3DnJAUSiG3cYQxtkxEQjJYB4-gWp61Ziq4gstpjAfu6lRKVAoAia9tig3-ZDl13FQBCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board recorded three formal actions during the meeting:

1) Minutes and treasury warrants: The board approved minutes with an amendment and approved treasury warrants by roll call. The roll‑call votes were recorded as follows: Matt — Aye; Tom — Aye; Malcolm — Aye; Dawn — Aye; Chair — Aye.

2) Gift acceptances: The board accepted two gifts: (a) a corrected gift amount of $500 from Hal Miller to the Saltmarsh Senior Center (correction from a previously recorded $200) and (b) a $1,000 gift from the Sternlicht Foundation to the Fire Department for training initiatives. The board approved acceptance and requested notes of thanks; the roll‑call vote was unanimous (Matt Aye; Tom Aye; Malcolm Aye; Dawn Aye; Chair Aye).

3) Baxter Road alternative access endorsement: The board voted to endorse the 100% design for the Baxter Road alternative‑access project (see separate article). The endorsement was recorded by roll call with a unanimous vote (Matt Aye; Tom Aye; Malcolm Aye; Dawn Aye; Chair Aye).

All three actions were approved by recorded roll‑call votes.","At the end of the Select Board meeting the board approved amended minutes and treasury warrants, accepted two gifts for town programs, and unanimously endorsed the Baxter Road alternative‑access design.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6387069,"Planning staff preview zoning changes tied to the state Affordable Homes Act and a new cottage‑community bylaw",3074,3021000,6095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d&start=3021&end=6095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117128-4ef0c3a4432759f5a0e1f2a3525b632d/thumbnail_3021000.jpg","/articles/6387069/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Planning-staff-preview-zoning-changes-tied-to-the-state-Affordable-Homes-Act-and-a-new-cottagecommunity-bylaw","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387069-6ab3768fa3b9a84661c760e1c4be31ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165171&Signature=jfqU1KEvls9pI3oL39KJwdwEBfHOoMd68ItJrmnRjTFOXEgOozucirXnfRP1FwMk9MrlBCkw~pFU1Ot4IQvTu04R6dRKokTS3xCOcwTSn8~MH-gp9vgnGEwrBV5YhWHBrXgE7LJJj-U0kiDRhOnWUKpF3izh7Xcssmg5iCMldaXAXaerbQW48OIOeYxY1VHbvbcigNwnmXbOfdPHlWsqsslFx97WjWjKNfBYZmM-ZZC-oE36-1HyUbzqWHg9qQBW9UWULLRYvPxtnl4hrExLVK~fkVfBgOrcwYzJIIYhEo-coj5Ah6FsK6ADwuZXCAfs4WlhmWGRLh02T7iKRkStbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leslie Snell, Director of Planning, and Senior Planner Megan Trudell briefed the Select Board on 25 planning‑board articles proposed for the May Town Meeting warrant. Several are technical map‑rezonings to implement the town’s 2009 master plan; others respond to a recent state law dubbed the Affordable Homes Act.

Trudell explained the state law requires towns to adopt a standard definition of accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Under the state definition an ADU must be a self‑contained unit on the same lot as a principal dwelling and is limited to the smaller of 900 square feet or one‑half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling; municipalities must allow ADUs and allow multiple ADUs by special permit. Trudell said the proposed bylaw amendments harmonize town definitions and the use chart with state requirements.

Separately, staff presented a proposed cottage‑community bylaw intended to encourage small owner‑occupied units for year‑round housing (one to three bedrooms per unit, special‑permit review, shared access and site plan components). Planning staff said the bylaw is designed to create smaller ownership opportunities while requiring site‑level review to address parking, access, and neighborhood compatibility; the planning board will hear public input and may refine the article.

Other proposed zoning changes discussed included: technical rezones (RC2 to residential districts) to align land use with surrounding parcels; solar clarifications to treat ground‑mounted systems as accessory uses subject to setbacks and ground‑cover limits; an inclusionary‑housing update clarifying how inclusionary requirements apply in mixed‑use developments; and a proposed island‑wide prohibition of standalone pickleball facilities in response to neighborhood noise and compatibility concerns.

Select Board members asked for more analysis on how cottage communities and expanded ADU allowances could affect water, sewer and parking capacity, particularly outside downtown. The planning director and Trudell said they would produce a visual analysis of likely unit increases by zoning district and return to the board before the warrant is finalized.","Planning staff reviewed about 25 planning‑board sponsored zoning articles, including state‑mandated changes from the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act (ADU definition and related updates), a locally proposed cottage‑community bylaw focused on owner‑occupied smaller units, and other updates on solar, pickleball, and inclusionary housing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board debates how to regulate peer‑to‑peer car sharing; direction to draft a registration path

Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee reports progress on Francis Street, Easy Street and asks for $50,000 for grant consultants

Select Board endorses Baxter Road alternative-access design; phase 1 cost estimated at about $24 million

Votes at a glance: Select Board approves minutes/warrants, accepts gifts, and endorses Baxter Road design

Planning staff preview zoning changes tied to the state Affordable Homes Act and a new cottage‑community bylaw