Commission approves gate and Belgian‑block apron, orders removal of cattle grate and planting exhibit at 20 Deramont

The Nantucket Historic District Commission on July 22 approved a revised driveway entrance plan for 20 Deramont that removes an existing cattle grate, replaces the paved apron with Belgian block, moves the vehicle gate rearward on the driveway, and requires supplemental street‑side planting shown on an Exhibit A. Tory, the applicant representative, told the commission she and the project landscaper had surveyed the street and collected precedent photos of Belgian‑block aprons on the same road. Tory said the posts were moved in and that additional evergreen planting would be added to screen the driveway (presentation excerpt: "the landscaper and I revisited the street"). Commissioners debated whether a gate should be placed forward—near the street—or set back so the entirety of the existing grate would lie behind the gate. Several commissioners said that if the gate is placed closer to the road it becomes a prominent, character‑changing element; others supported moving the gate back and using dense planting so only a weathered gate would be visible from the public way. Angus made a motion to approve the gate shown in the submitted photo, to remove the cattle grate, and to replace the grate area with a Belgian‑block apron extending from the bike path to the gate; the motion included a requirement for an Exhibit A showing the vehicle and pedestrian gates, the Belgian block, and supplemental street planting, and for payment of the as‑built/asphalt fee. The commission voted in favor; recorded voice votes indicated the motion carried. The commission directed the applicant to document the distance from the bike path to the beginning of the proposed apron (the applicant stated that distance is 10 feet from the bike path to the start of the apron) and to include the planting plan and gate details in Exhibit A. Commission members noted that the length of apron approved in this instance (about 25 feet from the bike path to the gate, as described in discussion) should not be considered a general precedent for future applications on other streets. The motion as approved: move the vehicular gate to the back edge of the Belgian‑block apron, remove the cattle grate, install Belgian block across the apron, include a pedestrian gate to the right of the post, require supplemental street‑side vegetation, and include the as‑built/asphalt fee in the application record.