(June 5, 2021: Update 2:11 p.m.) Nantucket voters on Saturday overwhelmingly rejected proposed restrictions on short-term vacation rentals, and a move to earmark a quarter of the Land Bank's annual revenue for affordable-housing initatives.
They did, however, approve more than $16 million in spending and borrowing capacity for affordable-housing projects, partially through debt-exclusion overrides that must still be approved at the June 15 Annual Town Election.
An amendment by ACK•Now, the political-action committee that proposed the short-term rental article, to exempt year-round property owners from the regulations, did not resonate with voters. The final vote was 625-297 to reject it.
The article would have established a local rental registry, and set strict limits on the number of days a home could be rented each year – 45 – require minimum stays and restrict the number of people per bedroom and vehicles per property.
The issue engendered fierce debate for the past six months, with supporters arguing investor-driven short-term rentals further reduce the town's limited amount of year-round housing, and negatively impact the environment, traffic and quality of life.
Opponents say the majority of short-term rentals are owned either by year-round residents or off-islanders who rely on the income to make ends meet. Restricting short-term rentals would also have a significant impact on the hospitality industry, the primary driver of the island's economy, they said.
The vote to reject Affordablle Housing Trust member Brooke Mohr's Land Bank proposal was 573-205. Proponents argued the Land Bank has largely fulfilled its mission of acquiring open space and preserving access to the water, and its annual revenue of over $20 million in recent years is enough to sustain it, even if a quarter is used for affordable housing.
Opponents said the Land Bank's mission is far from over, the cost of desireable open space continues to climb, and after operating expenses, taking a quarter of its estimated $20 million in annual revenue for affordable housing would leave it roughly $4 million for yearly acquisitions.
Moderator Sarah Alger gaveled Nantucket's 2021 Annual Town Meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. under a tent outside Nantucket Elementary School.
There is seating for 700 under four tents set up for the meeting. At the start, the majority of the seats were full, and a line of voters was still waiting to register.
Voters moved three articles – the short-term rental and Land Bank proosals, and a proposal to use a portion of the town's annual rooms-occupancy-tax revenue for affordable-housing initatives – to the beginning of the 112-article warrant.
• They rejected the proposal by island attorney Arthur Reade to appropriate two-thirds of the town's annual rooms-occupancy tax revenue for affordable-housing initiatives. The vote was 478-325 in favor, but it required a two-thirds majority to pass.
Opponents argued the structure of the article, which would have required the funding to be placed in a stabilziation fund, which can only be released by Town Meeting vote, would have made it difficult for the town's Affordable Housing Trust to compete in the fast-moving real-estate market.
• Voters also approved without debate the town's $97.2 million operating budget, and $24.1 million in capital spending in Article 10, including $8.25 million for affordable housing, $6.5 million in townwide facilities projects, $1 million for sidewalk improvements, $1.25 million for roadwork and $1.1 million for public-school improvements.
• Other articles approved without debate included $1.2 million for Newtown Road improvements, $3.3 million for Lover's Lane work and $4.3 million for improvements to the Children's Beach stormwater pump station. All three appropriations are debt-exclusion overrides and must still be approved at the Annual Town Election.
• Also approved without debate was $2.8 million in Community Preservation Committee spending, including $1.4 million for affordable housing, $730,000 for historic preservation and $285,000 for open-space conservation.
• A town proposal to appropriate an additional $2 million toward the construction of a fieldhouse at the Nobadeer Farm Road playing fields passed easily.
• Voters approved 189-61 a non-binding proposal by Clifford Williams authorizing the town to pursue development of a solid-waste incinerator at the municipal landfill in Madaket.
• They also approved 166-130 Williams' request to have the town seek a legal opinion on beach-access rights. Select Board chair Dawn Holdgate said the town has already done so, and an opinion is forthcoming.
• Voters approved 254-46 a non-binding resolution that the Select Board pursue creation of a hazardous-waste collection building at the municipal landfill, and bring its recommendation to a future Town Meeting.
• Voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal by Maria Zodda directing the Select Board to reestablish a town parks and recreation department, and appoint a director to run it.
• A Planning Board proposal to prohibit pools on lots sizes under 7,500 square feet in the R-1, SR-1, R-5 and R-5L zoning districts, primarily those immediately outside the downtown area and Sconset village, and establish a 10-foot rear-yard setback, passed with a two-thirds majority.
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Nantucket voters shoot down short-term vacation rental restrictions, diversion of Land Bank funds - The Inquirer and Mirror
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