Nantucket commission stops short of recommending street‑wide historic bollards after shop hit by car

The Nantucket Historical Commission discussed possible historically appropriate pedestrian barriers for Main Street on June 20, after the owner of Town Pool reported his storefront was struck when a car mounted the curb in late May.

Commission Chair Rita Carr summarized the owner’s request: “His shop was struck by a car that jumped the curb ... he was proposing pedestrian‑safety, implementing some historically appropriate, essentially barriers that would look like these horse tiebacks.” Commissioners weighed the safety benefit against visual clutter and pedestrian impacts.

Commissioners and staff said the number and spacing required to reliably stop vehicles would be substantial. One member estimated spacing would need to be roughly every 5 to 8 feet to be effective, and others noted that many sidewalks already contain trees, benches and bike racks that would conflict with additional posts. Commission members raised concerns that dense rows of bollards would impede strollers, bicycle parking and general pedestrian flow and could create a “Disneyland”‑like aesthetic inconsistent with the historic Main Street character.

The preservation planner, Holly Backus, suggested alternatives including site‑specific placements in front of the affected storefront and working with the town’s bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee on technical solutions and spacing. Commissioners also suggested exploring other short‑term options such as adding a tree, relocating a bench or siting trash receptacles to create a buffer at the most exposed location.

The commission did not vote on a formal recommendation for a street‑wide installation. Chair Carr asked staff to follow up with the Town Pool owner to discuss targeted options in front of his store and to report back to the commission.

Commissioners said any material or design decisions should be coordinated with town departments so installations do not conflict with trees, utilities or existing street furniture.