The Nantucket Education Trust on Jan. 21 asked the School Committee to support a town-meeting warrant article that would authorize a long-term lease of a portion of school campus property at 48 Sparks Avenue to develop staff housing.

"What this article is is a real estate disposition, asking for long term lease authorization of a portion of 48 Sparks Avenue with access and utility rights," Hadley Dutra, president of the Nantucket Education Trust, said in a presentation. She said the trust manages 12 existing teacher housing units on Calpine Lane under a long-term lease arrangement with the town and would replicate that model on the Sparks Avenue parcel.

Dutra said the parcel under consideration is adjacent to existing campus facilities near the bus parking area and estimated the site could accommodate roughly 40,000 square feet of development, which the trust said might translate to an initial estimate of six to 10 units depending on final design and zoning allowances. The trust described the requested lease as a long-term, below-market lease model similar to the Calpine Lane arrangement.

Committee members asked about zoning, density and potential archaeological review. Dutra said trust members have flagged zoning provisions that might permit denser development for educator housing and that an archaeological survey would be part of the process if the warrant article clears town meeting and the project advances.

The committee voted to authorize the school committee's support for the town-meeting warrant article. The warrant item will proceed to the annual town meeting for final action by town meeting members.

Dutra acknowledged the project is early-stage: the trust said it is asking only for town-meeting authorization to lease the parcel and that further design, permitting and surveys would follow if town meeting approves the disposition.

The committee's motion to support the warrant article carried on a voice vote during the meeting.