Historic District Commission approves Toll Pond View pool package, with gate removed and visibility conditions

The Nantucket Historic District Commission approved multiple applications Tuesday for alterations at a property on Toll Pond View, including a new 30-by-15-foot pool, an exterior spa, patio hardscape, an outdoor kitchen and a bocce and sport court, while requiring screening and limiting visible elements from the public way.

Commissioners said the approvals are contingent on the new hardscape and pool elements not being visible at the time of the HDC inspection or thereafter. The board also required no change to existing grade from the town topography and asked that plantings shown in the plans be maintained or augmented to preserve screening.

The Commission debated the extent of hardscape and the appropriateness of a new gate and granite posts at the driveway apron. Commissioners ultimately voted to remove the proposed gate and posts from the permit package and to require the pool/spa/fire-pit/hardscape be screened so they are not visible from Pond View Drive at inspection and thereafter. The main pool application included the 30-by-15-foot pool size and an added spa on the existing main-house pool; town staff noted drainage and watershed constraints when discussing the project. Neighbors raised concerns about visibility, noise, and the amount of hardscape; commissioners repeatedly said visibility from the public way is the principal HDC standard and the applicant responded by beefing up plantings and pulling hardscape away from the street.

The bocce court, located further back on the lot and screened by plantings, was approved without additional conditions. The sport court received conditional approval: commissioners required augmented perimeter planting to maintain year-round screening and added language that any plantings shown as existing or approved must be maintained and augmented if they are not providing the required screening at inspection.

The Commission recorded the following formal actions: approval of the pool/spa/hardscape package with the gate and posts removed, subject to: (1) pool/spa/fire-pit/outdoor-kitchen not visible at time of inspection or thereafter; (2) no change in grade from town topo prior to the time of application; and (3) the applicant to withdraw the gate and granite posts from the submission. The bocce court was approved as submitted. The sport court was approved with the added planting and maintenance conditions described above.

Commissioners emphasized that their purview is architectural character and visibility from public ways; they repeatedly told neighbors that sound/operational concerns are within the planning board’s jurisdiction but recommended the applicant look at voluntary noise mitigation for neighbor relations. Staff noted the property lies within a watershed and that pool drainage requires professional handling. The applicant said they will coordinate the required planting and finalize drawing labels requested by staff before permits are issued.