Everybody's Hometown: Sound Planning Required

To the editor: Concerned community members have expressed their opposition to a candidate’s suggestion that we should have allowed the construction of taller buildings in Richmond Development. Taller buildings would have increased the current development by 25 to 30 percent and added dwelling units off Old South Road. As a sitting Planning Board member, I must express my strong disagreement with this careless statement.

Old South Road and Nobadeer Farm Road, along with the surrounding area, are already overburdened. If the inflated numbers were a part of the original Richmond proposal, I firmly believe my fellow Planning Board members would not have approved 25 to 30 percent more units then and would certainly not agree to this proposal if it were presented today. Adding units to an already stressed area is not responsible planning.

However, let’s jump back and review some recent history. First, we have Naushop, a thoughtfully designed development with about 196 homes. We then introduced Richmond Group across the street from Naushop with a somewhat reasonable plan, which was made better after the developer negotiated with homeowners on Daffodil Lane and Evergreen Way to construct only 58 homes versus the 25 to 30 percent more units,  instead of the town being forced into a “friendly 40B,” which would have allowed Richmond to build 94 houses initially proposed by the developer. So, did it become a “friendly” project because they have 94 homes, not 58 homes? Alternatively, an increase in the number of units would be implemented, which would require one additional space per bedroom. Even with the current parking calculations, there is already a level of unmanaged overflow.

Currently, Richmond has 200 rental apartments and 94 single homes. Can you imagine the traffic congestion that would result from 25 to 30 percent more cars on today’s roads? That’s simply not feasible. The arguments made during the Town Meeting, by non-believers in the project, that year have led us to this current situation of over-developed 40B, and we must accept it as it is.

Additionally, last year when the Planning Board reviewed the proposal for Sandpiper Development, the Board discovered the constructed Richmond project did not have adequate parking for the units already built. Imagine more intensity if the suggestion was implemented.

Lastly and most importantly: I am deeply concerned about the candidate's comments and believe, if elected, the person making these statements would steer the Planning Board in the wrong direction and encourage the Board in a manner contrary to the best interests of the community. This candidate’s ideas for a solution to a very real community issue are extremely concerning at best and forever detrimental to the community at worst. This candidate does not have a grasp on the long-term and ripple effect consequences of residents of continued blanket increases in density to an already overdeveloped area of the island.

Now more than ever, the Planning Board must show keen mental discernment, good judgment, and foresight when evaluating these complex situations and making decisions to help Nantucket navigate our fast-moving housing market and provide increased stability to ALL our residents.

Joseph Topham