Residents and experts tell ZBA Surfside Crossing plan risks water supply, firefighting and stormwater; hearing continued

The Town of Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 24 continued its hearing on application 2524, Surfside Crossing LLC, after extended public testimony from former firefighters, water‑quality advocates and engineers who raised concerns about the project’s effect on the town’s water supply, firefighting capacity, stormwater controls and compatibility with the remand from the Housing Appeals Committee.

The testimony focused on three interlocking issues: whether the island has enough water quantity and pressure to fight large fires at a dense 19‑building development; whether a documented PFAS contamination plume and recent well shutdowns make drawing municipal water riskier; and whether changes between the plan the HAC reviewed and the developer’s current submission require full review of stormwater, grading and other site‑control measures.

Why it matters: Board members heard that the development would change the demand on a sole‑source aquifer and could require significant water withdrawals during fires or for building sprinklers, potentially accelerating movement of a PFAS plume toward town wells. Speakers urged the ZBA to consider site changes made since the HAC process — including tree clearing, added impervious area and utilities on a town easement — when deciding whether to approve waivers or conditions.

Beau Barber, a former member of the Nantucket Fire Department, said the department’s capacities are limited and that the 2019 Veranda House fire stretched the system to its limit. "The Veranda House fire was the limit of our capabilities," Barber said, recounting that roughly 850,000 gallons were used over nine hours and that pumps were operating near minimum intake pressure. Barber and other witnesses warned that multiple simultaneous fires or a large conflagration in a dense development would overwhelm available flow and pressure.

Megan Perry, speaking for Nantucket Tipping Point,…