A Call For Accountability In Nantucket’s Conservation Efforts

To the editor: I write to you with a growing sense of concern about the enforcement of conservation regulations on our island, particularly in light of the recent Conservation Commission meeting. While the commission members expressed outrage over the illegal cutting at 14 Plover — a violation that sparked widespread public outrage — their own track record raises serious questions about accountability and consistency in enforcing the very rules they are tasked with upholding.

For over two years, I have been in communication with the commission regarding an illegal 6-foot solid wood fence erected at 110 Wauwinet Rd. This fence was not only installed within the 50-foot buffer zone of the coastal bank during the winter of 2023—it extended right up to the coastal bank itself. The installation of this fence destroyed natural vegetation from the 50-foot setback all the way to the coastal bank. The shadow and lack of airflow caused by the fence further killed vegetation along the bank. When the fence was finally removed last summer, the process again destroyed natural vegetation along the 50-foot line to the coastal bank.

To compound the issue, a 40-foot flagpole was later installed on the same coastal bank. To date, the commission has not provided any evidence of a permit for this structure, nor have they taken steps to address its removal. This pattern of inaction sends a troubling message: violations of conservation regulations can occur without consequence.

As I listened to the commission’s outrage over the illegal cutting at 14 Plover—outrage that seemed to echo the widespread public dismay over the incident—I couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration. Just across the street at 110 Wauwinet Rd, the property owner has seemingly been allowed to act with impunity, with clear violations going unaddressed. To make matters worse, the neighbor recently approached the Conservation Commission seeking approval to reinstall the 6-foot solid wood fence. Rather than outright denying this request—as the fence serves no benefit to the neighbor and clearly violates conservation principles—the commission had the audacity to propose and approve the installation of a split rail fence right up to the coastal bank. This decision is not only baffling but feels like a reward for someone who has repeatedly disregarded the commission’s authority.

If violations go unpunished and solutions are approved for those who flout the rules, what incentive do property owners have to comply with conservation laws? The lack of enforcement and accountability undermines the very purpose of the Conservation Commission and erodes public trust in its ability to protect our island’s natural resources.

I urge the members of the Conservation Commission to reflect on their responsibilities and the message they are sending to our community. Upholding the integrity of our conservation efforts is not just a matter of policy—it is a matter of principle. Our island’s natural beauty and ecological health depend on consistent, fair, and decisive action. It is time for the commission to demonstrate that no one is above the rules and that violations will be met with consequences. I urge the commission to address the illegal flag pole at 110 Wauwinet Rd.

Sincerely,

Jon P. Walker
112 Wauwinet Road