Land Bank grants mitigation credit for 29.7-acre Milestone Road parcel to support Nantucket Water Department permit

The Nantucket Land Bank Commission authorized the Land Bank to provide mitigation credit for a 29.7-acre Milestone Road parcel to support an amendment the Nantucket Water Department has applied for through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Water Management Program.

Beth (permitting presenter) explained that the Water Department is seeking to amend its permit to cover anticipated withdrawals through 2033 and that state regulation requires mitigation where withdrawals increase. She said the Land Bank owns conservation restrictions on the parcel and that mitigation credit may be applied if the easement owner agrees. Beth described the parcel as about 29.7 acres and said that the amount required to meet the permit threshold was slightly over 26 acres, so the 29.7-acre parcel would satisfy the mitigation need through 2033: “It’s the 27 29.7-acre parcel...we would accept mitigation credit for land protection either as water source protection land or as priority conservation land.”

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about ownership, acreage and how the credit would be recorded. Staff confirmed the Land Bank holds the conservation easements and that the commission’s authorization would allow a representative to sign forms verifying use of the parcel as mitigation credit. The commission made a motion, seconded, and approved granting the mitigation credit and authorizing staff to sign necessary paperwork.

Staff said they will notify the water department and submit the authorization for inclusion in the department’s permit amendment process.