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Planning Board recommends Caroline Balzer’s Nantucket Vacation Rental article to Town Meeting
Summary
Caroline Balzer urged the board to adopt a local zoning term and codify ZBA findings about vacation rentals to end repeated litigation and community harassment; the board voted to send the article to Town Meeting with a positive recommendation.
Caroline Balzer presented an article (Nantucket Vacation Rental, or NVR) that would recognize vacation rentals as part of Nantucket’s long‑standing cottage tourism economy and codify the Zoning Board of Appeals’ recent ruling into the bylaw. Balzer argued this approach would halt serial lawsuits and community bullying and allow existing regulations adopted last year to be implemented before adding new restrictions.
Supporters pointed to town‑budget data presented to the Select Board showing a decline in rooms‑tax revenue and urged caution about further regulatory changes that could have unintended consequences. Opponents said prior Town Meeting votes and community sentiment indicate caution about loosening zoning. After public comment, the Planning Board voted to send the Balzer article to Town Meeting with a positive recommendation.
Next steps: The article will appear on the warrant with the Planning Board’s positive recommendation; Town Meeting debate may still amend wording or impose different limits.
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