Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Project Approval topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Work group approves 30% schematic design for Francis Street pilot, directs staff to finalize report
Summary
Nantucket town/Land Bank work group unanimously approved the 30% schematic design deliverables for the Francis Street beach and boardwalk pilot and directed staff to circulate and finalize the report while continuing funding and MOU negotiations.
A Nantucket Town/Land Bank work group voted unanimously to approve the 30% schematic design deliverables for the Francis Street beach and boardwalk pilot, moving the project into the next phase of design and permitting. The motion was made and seconded and passed with three members voting in favor and two members absent.
The approved package includes illustrative and schematic design documents, a preliminary estimate of probable costs, a basis of design memo, a stormwater analysis, a funding-sources memo and operations-and-maintenance guidance. Presenters said the deliverables are at a 30% design level, meaning cost ranges remain preliminary and will be refined in later design stages. Laura, the project presenter, said the team will submit a revised cost estimate from Hazen & Sawyer that incorporates design, engineering and permitting soft costs before finalizing numbers.
Why it matters: approval of 30% design allows the town and Land Bank to advance grant applications and detailed permitting work; it does not authorize construction funding. Work-group members emphasized that moving to final design and permitting likely will require revisiting the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that governs cost-sharing and responsibilities between the town and the Land Bank.
The committee set next steps that include staff circulation of the final report within two weeks for internal sign-off and a staff-level meeting between town and Land Bank in June to coordinate budgeting, grant applications and potential revisions to the MOU. The group discussed the possibility of taking funding requests to town meeting for construction-phase approvals if grant support does not cover the full cost.
Participants repeatedly cautioned that the numbers presented are initial estimates tied to the 30% design stage. As one presenter put it, the numbers on the screen were "an initial estimate of construction" and would rise once design and permitting soft costs are included. Committee discussion also stressed sequencing with broader Coastal Resiliency Plan work and coordination with utility planning to avoid duplicative construction.
The motion to approve the 30% deliverables was approved unanimously. Staff will circulate the final deliverables and proceed with coordination on funding, the MOU and the permitting pathway.
