The Nantucket Historic District Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to support a proposal to let the town's Certified Local Government (CLG) serve as the appointing authority for a historic-preservation sector seat on the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission (NPEDC).

Leslie Snell, the town's planning director, told commissioners the NPEDC wants a sector-based appointment process to broaden candidates beyond board appointees and to allow people steeped in preservation but not currently serving on a commission to be considered. "They want to widen the pool of candidates to be considered for an annual appointment," Snell said during the discussion.

The vote followed brief questions and support from commissioners; Chair (unidentified) instructed Kathy (staff) to draft a letter to the NPEDC and the motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: shifting appointment authority to the CLG would let the commission draw from a wider group of preservation-minded residents and practitioners, potentially changing who represents historic-preservation perspectives in regional planning decisions.

Votes at a glance
- Support CLG appointment to NPEDC: passed unanimously (motion and letter of support). (See discussion beginning with the planning director briefing.)
- Consent agenda modifications (including moving 268/Pulpus Road pool hardscape): approved unanimously with noted recusals.
- 115 Cliff Road: motions approved to require applicant revisions (see item for details) including an Exhibit A for dormer removal on the guest house and a requirement that staff-prepared minutes accompany revision submissions; the commission invoked its "3-strikes" best-practice warning about potential denial after repeated rounds without material change.
- Pool house at 115 Cliff Road: held for revision (board asked for a rework of cross-gable/round-window details and further screening plans).
- 30 North Beach: board approved one additional, substantive revision round limited to the main house (remove or reduce the left massing, reduce driveway/parking across the front, and shift or otherwise reduce visibility); other amenities will be held until the house design is resolved.
- 6 Fargo Way: approved as submitted (with corrected application plates/dimensions).
- 17 Hooper Farm Road (primary/secondary dwellings): board approved an Exhibit A requiring the primary dwelling be shifted back (minimum 7 feet), modest height reduction and window proportion changes.

What else the board heard
Staff preservation-planning updates: Holly (CLG coordinator) reported an RFQ for a FY23 MHC (Massachusetts Historical Commission) grant-funded consultant to survey additional historic-district properties and noted a FY26 pre-application to MHC for funding to develop a preservation plan.

Process note: Chair and several commissioners emphasized the HDC's "3-strikes" best practice (possible denial with prejudice if material revisions are not made within three hearings). The board also adopted a practice of asking applicants to include staff-prepared minutes with revision submissions to clarify prior directions.

Next steps: Applicants with directed revisions will return to the HDC with revised drawings and, where requested, staff minutes documenting the board's direction. The commission set its next meeting for Jan. 20, 2026.