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Planning Board discusses 44 Skyline Drive and 24 Essex Road; approves related second-dwelling applications with conditions
Summary
Board members said the planning board’s authority is limited to access and subdivision standards on 44 Skyline Drive; they approved the related second-dwelling applications on several parcels and placed specific conditions on 24 Essex Road to prevent use of a first-floor basement as a dwelling.
The Nantucket Planning Board discussed neighborhood concerns about movable buildings at 44 Skyline Drive and approved a package of secondary-dwelling and garage-apartment applications while pulling two parcels for separate discussion.
Why it matters: The board emphasized limits to its authority — chiefly access and zoning standards — and directed residents with enforcement concerns to the building department. The board approved other second-dwelling applications subject to standard conditions and a few site-specific restrictions.
What the board said and did - 44 Skyline Drive: Commissioner Dave raised resident concerns and said the planning board’s purview was confined to access and subdivision rules. He told residents the building department is the appropriate enforcement authority for questions about habitability or whether structures are intended as long-term residences. The board pulled 44 Skyline Drive from the omnibus motion for separate discussion.
- 24 Essex Road: The board discussed an enforcement history and added a condition prohibiting a dwelling in the first floor of the basement while approving the second-floor garage apartment that was part of the application. Staff clarified the subdivision amendment authorizes a 950-square-foot limit for a second dwelling at this location and that any expansion beyond that would require a public hearing.
- Motion and outcome: The board voted to approve the package of secondary-dwelling and garage-apartment applications excluding 44 Skyline Drive and some other pulled parcels; those pulled parcels were discussed and approved with the site-specific condition noted for 24 Essex Road. (Recorded roll-call votes appear in the minutes.)
What the public heard: Several board members said they understood neighbors’ concerns about movable buildings and density but reiterated the limits of the planning board’s jurisdiction; they advised residents to pursue building-code or zoning-enforcement complaints with the building commissioner.
Next steps: The board instructed staff to include the special conditions in the decision documents and to ensure any expansion beyond authorized square footage returns to the board for public hearing.
