The Candidates In Their Own Words: Nantucket Planning Board Race

We invited the two candidates vying for the one open seat on the Nantucket Planning Board to introduce themselves to Nantucket Current's readers, share their platform, and explain why voters should choose them in this race in 500 words or fewer.

Brian Borgeson

I am the citizen who sponsored Article 1 at the Special Town Meeting last fall. After seven years of debate, Article 1 passed overwhelmingly, legalizing rentals within Nantucket’s zoning bylaws and helping end years of neighbor-against-neighbor lawsuits. The positive response inspired me to become more involved in local government.

I am a year-round resident and business owner running for the Nantucket Planning Board. The Planning Board plays an important role in shaping the future of the island, reviewing applications under local zoning and the State’s subdivision control law, while also helping guide Nantucket’s long-term Master Plan.

I will approach the role thoughtfully, fairly, and collaboratively. I understand the importance of balancing differing viewpoints and making decisions that serve the broader community. I also believe local boards benefit from members who live and work on Nantucket year-round and understand the realities facing residents and businesses alike.

The Town needs more efficient and responsive government, and I believe I can help move that forward through respectful dialogue and practical decision-making.

Thank you for your consideration, and please vote on May 19th.

Hillary Hedges Rayport

Every generation shapes Nantucket’s future. Our island has reaped the benefits of economic growth, but is facing significant challenges. Groundwater, ponds, and harbors suffer from pollution. Traffic has become a daily reality. Development has outpaced thoughtful long-term planning, and longtime residents wonder if there is a future for their children on this island. These are not isolated issues; they are community-wide planning issues.

I’m running for re-election to the Planning Board because I believe we can use planning tools to create a better future for our community.

As your elected planning board representative since last year, I’ve been diligent and fair-minded in applying subdivision control laws and evaluating special permit applications. When I ran for office last spring, I made a number of campaign promises. I promised to ask tough questions and stand firm on accountability in planning, so we would never again ask “Who’s behind this anyway?.” This year, the planning board had rigorous processes, and we are earning the confidence of the community. Every article the Planning Board sponsored was approved at Town Meeting.

I also promised to bring more of the community into the community plan. The board approved and adopted a Vision Statement that includes key objectives, all of which were developed with broad community input. (You can read the vision statement and other master planning documents here.) I’ve consistently pushed us to secure greater community-wide benefit before granting special permits or waivers to our subdivision control regulations. And I’m advocating for revisions to our ADU by-laws to make the state-mandated requirements work more smoothly within our zoning code.

One promise that’s been challenging to advance in a single year is an area plan for the waterfront, including a much-needed parking management plan for the downtown Stop & Shop lot. It will take more time to build consensus for this initiative within the NP&EDC, which is the commission responsible for neighborhood planning (and parking). I’ve pushed over several years for reform of the NP&EDC; Town Meeting passed a petition restructuring and modernizing it, this time with agreement from all sides.

Your planning board is a team -- some might call us a team of rivals -- but we are working well together. People know I’m an activist and that I care deeply about Nantucket. I’m not bought, and I’m not bossed. I’m here, every month of the year, on nights and weekends, demonstrating my commitment. I hope Nantucket voters will select the candidate with the experience and the will to put planning tools to work for the benefit of our whole community. On Tuesday, May 19^th, I humbly ask for your vote.