The Nantucket Conservation Commission issued an amended order of conditions to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank allowing accessibility upgrades at Long Pond Landing, including an ADA parking space, revised walkways and adjustments to an existing sitting area and elevated walkway to the pier.

Liz Phelps represented the Land Bank and said the work addresses accessibility: a concrete ADA parking space within the existing lot, refinishing an existing sitting area with a flush timber-grade deck and adding a wood walkway from the ADA spot to an existing elevated walkway. Phelps said the Land Bank had collaborated with the Town disability commission and initially requested a waiver but, on further review, staff and commissioners concluded that the small wooden walkway is water-dependent because it provides access to the water and therefore does not require a waiver.

Commissioners discussed whether the wood path extended into the 25-foot buffer; Linda Williams and others argued that handicap access to reach water is considered water-dependent. The commission removed the waiver language and changed the plan-of-record date to the newest drawing. A roll-call vote approving the amended order (motion to approve as amended by John Schafer; second Mike Mizzarelli) carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the Land Bank’s work is intended to increase ADA accessibility at a popular pond landing while maintaining protections for adjacent resource areas. By treating the brief wooden connection to the existing elevated walkway as water-dependent, commissioners avoided imposing a waiver requirement while still adding conditions to ensure minimal buffer impacts.

What happens next: the order includes the updated plan date and requires compliance with stated conditions in the amended order; staff will monitor construction to confirm work stays within the water-dependent elements and that no unauthorized buffer impacts occur.