Neighbors’ concerns prompt HDC to hold Monahanset church proposal for revisions

The Nantucket Historic District Commission voted to hold for revisions a proposal for a new church and social hall at 40–42 Monahanset after commissioners and at least one nearby resident said the design’s many doors, patios and a broad slat‑wall stair enclosure would amplify noise and look out of character with nearby buildings.

Architect Andrew Falenstein described the proposal as a three‑mass building that includes a sanctuary, a narrow entry bar and an administrative wing with a small two‑bedroom apartment above. “This building is is three masses…this building is primarily a church and a social meeting hall,” he said during the presentation.

Neighbors raised concerns about the number of ground‑level doors and patios that face a parking lot adjacent to the site. Matthew Peele, an abutter, told the commission he is worried the proposal will increase outdoor amplified activity and exacerbate recent loud events on the site: “it’s been extremely disruptive to the neighborhood…this worries me,” he said. Commissioners noted that noise regulation is outside HDC jurisdiction, but they treated the neighborhood’s concerns as relevant to decisions about visibility and fenestration.

Commissioners asked the applicant to revise the plans to: change the large French doors that face the parking lot to a configuration with kick panels and divided lights (or otherwise reduce their apparent openness); provide an alternative treatment for the large horizontal slat wall enclosing an exterior stair (fenestration or a trellis rather than a raw slat wall); and submit an Exhibit A landscape/screening plan that shows plantings between the parking lot and the building. Angus moved to hold for revisions; the motion carried.

Why the commission held the application: members said the combination of many full‑height doors and open outdoor spaces increases visual permeability toward neighbors and the public way. They also flagged the south/parking‑facing elevation’s large expanses of horizontal boarding and an enclosed stair screen as elements that need further work to reduce the building’s perceived bulk and to harmonize it with island character.

Next steps: The applicant will return with labeled elevations (north/south/east/west), revised fenestration for the parking‑facing doors, alternatives for the slat wall/stair enclosure and a landscape Exhibit A showing proposed screening and plant materials.