Town plans encroachment review as committee members raise safety concerns about brick sidewalks and tree roots

Nantucket — The town is compiling a review of sidewalk encroachments and expects an intern presentation in August, and committee members used a July 12 meeting to press for concrete action on dangerous sidewalk conditions created by tree roots and brick paving. Libby Gibson told the Advisory Committee of Nonvoting Taxpayers that the town is focusing on encroachments such as hedges, stakes and boulders that extend into public rights-of-way and impede pedestrian traffic. She said a team of real-estate interns is preparing a presentation for the Select Board in early August. “These are things like hedges that extend into the sidewalk… stakes are very common as well as boulders that people put along the edge of their property,” Gibson said. Committee members described a particularly hazardous stretch of brick sidewalk at Upper Main Street and Milk Street near the Civil War memorial, where tree roots have lifted bricks and led to falls and forced pedestrians into the street. A committee member named Karen described witnessing a fall and urged the town to consider alternative materials or designs that reduce trip hazards while preserving historic character. Gibson said the historic-preservation community is reluctant to replace brick but that solutions under review include careful root pruning, raising the sidewalk grade gradually or engaging a historic-preservation sidewalk specialist. Why it matters: uneven sidewalks and right-of-way encroachments present liability and safety concerns, especially in places with high pedestrian and bus traffic. The town must balance historic preservation, tree health and pedestrian safety. Supporting details: Gibson said staff have cut tree roots in the past to even sidewalks but cautioned that root work must be done by qualified arborists to avoid killing mature trees. She said the town is preparing enforcement and outreach materials tied to encroachments and will present initial findings in August. Quotes from the meeting: “These are things like hedges that extend into the sidewalk… stakes are very common as well as boulders,” Gibson said. A committee member said, “In Upper Main Street and Milk Street… the brick sidewalks and the trees have just created a really dangerous situation.” Ending: Town staff said an intern-developed encroachment presentation will be delivered to the Select Board in early August; committee members asked staff to prioritize immediate safety fixes where necessary.