Historic District Commission approves hardscape plan for Our Island Home with screening, aggregate condition

The Nantucket Historic District Commission on March 18 approved the final hardscape elements for the Our Island Home project at 43 Sherburne, directing the applicant to adjust an emergency-generator enclosure and to use exposed aggregate on visible walkways to match the land bank’s Hayes Overlook installation.

The commission’s unanimous vote came after a presentation by the project representative, who said the plan limits disturbance to about 4 acres of a 20‑acre parcel and includes a 53‑space parking lot plus a separate 12‑space lot for staff housing. The proposal calls for bituminous asphalt parking, concrete walkways (typical 5‑inch section) and three patios paved with concrete block pavers. Screening includes 8‑foot cedar fencing around the generator, a 6‑foot cedar screen fence on the southern edge of the parking area and a mix of highbush blueberry and privet hedging to limit light spill to nearby properties.

Preservation planner Holly (staff) told commissioners the site was selected in part to allow a full continuum‑of‑care campus on the island and noted existing lot‑line buffers and sanitary easements that constrained the developable area. Commissioner Joe asked whether the 8‑foot generator enclosure could be moved farther from the driving surface; the applicant replied staff had tried to respect a 50‑foot vegetated lot‑line buffer but agreed to push the enclosure north and add plantings to soften its appearance.

Commissioner Ray moved approval with the conditions that the generator enclosure be set back and landscaped and that exposed aggregate be used for the walkways where they are visible; commissioners asked staff to permit minor technical adjustments without a full resubmittal. The motion carried unanimously (Ayes: Angus; Abby; Connie; Joe; Ray).

The commission recorded the following clarifying technical details as conditions of approval: parking surfaced in bituminous asphalt (53 spaces plus 12 staff spaces), all walkways concrete (5‑inch typical section), patios in concrete block pavers, fences as proposed (8‑ft cedar screen for generator, 6‑ft cedar screen at southern parking edge, 4‑ft around patios), and landscape screening of highbush blueberry and privet hedging. The applicant also agreed to consider an exposed rounded stone aggregate finish on walkways where visibility to the public is highest, consistent with the land bank’s Hayes Overlook.

The project team said the site will be fully ADA accessible with slopes under 5 percent and 2 percent cross pitch on walkways. The HDC’s approval is limited to the submitted hardscape elements and the recorded conditions; any material changes to visible materials or layout must return to the commission for review.

Speakers at the item included the project representative John (applicant representative), preservation planner Holly (staff), and Commissioners Ray (mover), Joe and others. The commission’s staff will record the conditions in the decision and follow up on the generator screening and the exposed‑aggregate specification.