Nantucket Town Government Roundup, Jan. 16 -29

This edition of the Current’s government roundup is highlighted by the restoration of an iconic Main Street sign and an expansion of the Miacomet golf course driving range.

• The town is restoring an iconic directional sign on Main Street. The sign, with arms labeled and pointing to Nantucket destinations including Madaket, Surfside, and the Oldest House, has slowly fallen into disrepair, and the Department of Public Works briefly considered removing it. The town confirmed in November that it would not be removed and has now announced it will be restored.
• The Land Bank is seeking a permit to expand the Miacomet golf course driving range by 1.9 acres to address the fact that more and more golf balls hit in the range are landing outside of it. If the permit is granted, trees in the area will be removed, rare species replanted, and the grass mowed. Land Bank executive director Rachael Freeman called the expansion “quite small.” Land Bank commissioner Neil Patterson said the expansion has been in the works for 15 years and makes “complete sense.”
• The Planning Board made several more recommendations on Town Meeting articles. Among other things, they are supporting proposals to allow year-round deed restrictions as a condition of rear lot subdivisions and increase Nantucket’s limit for attainable housing from 240 percent of area median income to 250 percent.

Below, find the local government stories we covered in full over the last two weeks.

• The Affordable Housing Trust authorized the $2 million purchase of a lot in Madaket for attainable housing. Housing units from the Land Bank’s property at 41 Jefferson Avenue will be moved onto the lot.
• The Land Bank is applying for a deer damage permit, which will allow them to take deer out of season on certain properties.
• The warrant for the 2026 Annual Town Meeting is finalized, and the Select Board is recommending the town’s $170 million budget.
• The old Nantucket electric company building was demolished on Thursday, after receiving permission from the Historic District Commission and Conservation Commission.
• Nantucket scallopers will be able to bring in an extra bushel each day for the rest of the season after the Select Board voted to raise the bushel limit from five to six.
• The Select Board voted to allow Town Manager Libby Gibson to execute municipal employee housing leases without Board approval.
• The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority is looking to relocate a bus maintenance shed.