The Nantucket Historical Commission voted unanimously Nov. 21 to find that proposed pier replacement and related alterations at Coast Guard Station Grama Point would have no adverse effect under Section 106, endorsing the project team’s conceptual plan centered on a bulkhead option.

Chair Rita Carr opened the commission’s review and said staff had circulated the project materials in the meeting packet. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, who represented the project team at the meeting, told commissioners, “we are deliberating now between raising the bulkhead or building a seawall,” and that a formal presentation was not prepared because the applicants were notified of the meeting only about an hour and a half beforehand. Senior planner Leo Grenier said recapitalizing the pier was needed because of low site elevation that “hinders our operations.”

Commissioners asked for drawings showing existing and proposed elevations. Project staff described an operational rationale: the timber ramp will be extended to connect to the operations building so personnel will not have to wade through winter flooding, with the ramp tying into the building at roughly 6 feet and sloping to about 10 feet at the bulkhead to reduce wave overtopping.

After discussion, Commissioner Angus McLeod moved that the commission find no adverse effect for the proposed improvements as presented with the bulkhead option; George Butterworth seconded. The roll-call vote was recorded as “Aye” from McLeod, Sarah McClain, Abby de Molina, Butterworth, Barbara Halstead and Betsy Tyler. Chair Carr said the commission would follow up with an approval letter and that staff would confirm whether the project also needed a separate Historic District Commission review.

The commission’s action recognizes the need to balance historic-preservation review with Coast Guard operational safety. Project staff emphasized the design choice between a bulkhead and a seawall remains under deliberation; commissioners requested additional section drawings and confirmation of any required HDC/HTC reviews.

The commission’s approval is limited to the materials and conceptual plan presented during its Section 106 review; any significant design changes would require additional review.