Nantucket advisory committee finalizes edits to harbor plan’s coastal resilience section; expands stakeholder list, delays Easy Street 30% design

The Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee on May 13 reviewed final edits to the coastal resilience section of the Nantucket and Madaket Harbors Action Plan and recommended additions to the plan’s list of responsible and participating parties while receiving implementation updates on the island’s sediment transport study and Easy Street flood mitigation project.

Committee chair Peter Brace opened the agenda item and led members through goals, objectives and draft recommendations for public review; members suggested adding organizations such as the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Land Bank, Linda Loring, Mariah Mitchell and the Trustees of Reservations to the plan’s responsible/participating parties lists and clarified language on outreach, funding and regulatory roles.

Why this matters: The harbor plan functions as the island’s blueprint for shoreline projects, harbor infrastructure and grant applications; naming likely partners and clarifying which town departments would implement recommendations helps the town pursue funding, permits and community engagement.

Key edits and guidance from the committee

Committee members repeatedly urged the plan authors to change the label "responsible parties" to indicate flexible participation and to add specific island organizations to the lists for outreach and implementation. Members proposed adding the Communications Office, Finance/Capital committees, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Land Bank to multiple recommendations; others asked that implementation language clarify that responsible parties will be contacted by the implementation committee and that listed nonprofits are possible partners, not sole implementers.

Sediment transport study and dredging plan

Vince Murphy reported the sediment transport study and dredge planning work will continue: the consulting contract was extended with a zero‑dollar amendment to March 31, 2026. Murphy said the sediment work is not complete and that permitting for any dredge proposals could take "6 to 12 months minimum" once a plan is reached. He recommended adding a note in the plan that the sediment study is ongoing and that permitting timing is uncertain.

Easy Street flood mitigation project update

Natural resources staff reported a Commonwealth Coastal Zone Management (CZM) grant for the Easy Street study ends next month and that the project will not reach 30% design by June. Instead, staff will deliver a final report documenting three design alternatives, expand outreach to adjacent private properties and update hydraulic modeling. Staff said they will brief the Select Board once updated modeling and design implications are available.

Committee action and meeting logistics

Committee members voted to replace the committee’s scheduled May 13 in‑meeting format on June 10 with in‑person attendance at a free coastal resilience conference at the Great Harbor Yacht Club (June 10, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). The motion was made by Sarah Boyse and seconded by Matt Fee; recorded votes show several members abstaining because they would be off‑island that week and a majority supporting the change. The committee also approved minutes from March 25 and adjourned after the harbor plan discussion.

Next steps

Urban Harbors Institute staff will incorporate committee edits into the harbor plan draft and circulate the revision for additional departmental and public review; the committee expects a public comment session in July. Natural resources staff will continue Easy Street outreach and modeling and will track the sediment study timeline and permitting needs.

Ending

Chair Peter Brace said the plan will be circulated and that further refinement will follow public sessions and departmental reviews.