The Nantucket Conservation Foundation presented plans Thursday to lift and move an existing ranger station on Coatue farther inland, a project intended to reduce coastal erosion risk and restore the disturbed dune area.

Art Gasparo, representing the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, told the Nantucket Conservation Commission the structure’s edge has encroached toward the water and the foundation seeks to move it landward and restore the area with compatible sand fill, American beach grass plantings and temporary anchored fiber logs. "We believe that both environmental and functional interests are best served by relocating the structure," Gasparo said.

The proposal calls for supporting the relocated building on driven timber pilings (the team said likely 8x8 timbers), preserving the existing boardwalk and stairs with a small connector through the screened porch (estimated at roughly 30 square feet), and adding a small elevated observation platform to assist rangers in monitoring the area. Gasparo said the platform would be modest — roughly 5 by 5 feet — and that elevation would likely be in the 8–10 foot range above grade. The foundation has filed with Natural Heritage and awaits comment.

Commission questions focused on construction methods, the platform location and design, and the potential to consolidate structural elements. Commissioner John Shaffer asked how the relocated building would be supported; Gasparo replied that a structural engineer is designing driven timber pilings installed with a tracked excavator and vibratory head to minimize disturbance. Commissioner Mike Mizzarelli asked for a height and design for the observation platform; Gasparo said a design had not been finalized and offered to return with details. Another commissioner asked whether the platform could be co‑located with the relocated building to reduce additional impacts; Gasparo said the foundation would analyze that option.

The foundation proposed temporary sand stabilization with planted American beach grass and monitoring reports to the commission; the temporary anchored fiber logs would be removed after vegetation is established. Gasparo also said the foundation would limit equipment access to existing sand tracks and install symbolic fencing to limit disturbance.

Action: The commission agreed to continue the application to the Aug. 21 meeting and asked staff to schedule a site visit (commissioners expressed interest in seeing the site from a foundation boat). Gasparo requested the continuance and the commission set the next hearing date.

Next steps: The foundation will provide refined design details for the observation platform, consider relocating the platform to minimize separate impacts, provide the Natural Heritage response when received, and submit materials requested by commissioners ahead of the Aug. 21 continuance.