Select Board endorses letter supporting local preference for Tacoma Green affordable housing lottery

The Select Board on April 16 approved a request from the town housing office to send a letter to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) supporting a local preference for Tacoma Green, a 64‑unit rental project at 6 Fairgrounds Road.

Why it matters: Tacoma Green will contain income‑restricted rental units targeted at households at or below 80% of area median income. Local preference—if approved by EOHLC—means the town could reserve a specified share of the initial lottery for Nantucket residents, year‑round island employees and households with students in Nantucket public schools.

Housing director Christie (last name not recorded in the public transcript) explained the request to the board and said the housing office seeks a local preference comparable to recent applications such as Wiggles Way and Habitat for Humanity developments. The proposed preference would reserve 70% of units in the initial lottery for qualifying local applicants (residents, local workers, households with children in public school).

The board voted unanimously to approve the letter of support and authorize staff to submit it to the EOHLC. Housing staff said required documents and additional project details will be available on the town website.