Has The Land Bank Outlived Its Original Purpose?

To the editor: Has the Land Bank outlived its original purpose? Established in 1984, the pioneering Nantucket Land Bank was intended to preserve valuable open space and to protect the island from overdevelopment. Currently, the Land Bank, along with the Conservation Foundation, Audubon Society, Trustees of Reservations, Nantucket Land and Water Council, ‘Sconset Trust, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, and Nature Conservancy – along with federal, state, and local government-owned property, and others, now hold more than 52 percent of the land on Nantucket.

Every time the Land Bank buys a property for a “current market price”, it makes the cost of land for affordable housing that much more expensive.

For several years, I have suggested to Land Bank commissioners that every new property purchased should include a provision to allocate one 5,000 square foot building lot for affordable housing. This need not be on the parcel actually purchased – it could easily be mitigated into a parcel where affordable housing is greatly needed – closer to schools, stores and work sites.

Currently, the first and biggest item on the Land Bank meeting agenda is... golf courses!

The Land Bank has done an excellent job of refurbishing, upgrading, and expanding Miacomet Golf Course – which has become one of the premier public golf courses in Massachusetts, and in 2021 co-hosted the Mid Amateur golf tournament with the Sankaty Head Golf Club. The nine-hole Siasconset Golf Course also has been updated, along with its refurbished clubhouse.

But currently, in addition to golf, the Land Bank seems to be trying to find “appropriate” ways to spend its money. (Last year, Land Bank fees generated $23,703,453 in income from the 2 percent transfer fee on local real estate transactions.) One of the most recent successful projects is the beautiful Creeks Preserve park overlooking the harbor.

However, other current projects seem to be trying to find “good” ways to spend the public’s money, like building a community garden behind the new playground on Old South Rd., building a “water garden” at the corner of Easton and North Beach Streets, and creating a bike park off Milestone Road. All worthwhile ideas, but not one dollar to assist with much-needed affordable housing! (Except for the new dorms for staff at Miacomet Golf…)

And this week’s Land Bank agenda includes a “Request for Authorization to Explore Indoor Recreation facilities.” Is the Land Bank planning to build an indoor pickleball court?

It’s time to recognize the outstanding job the Land Bank, commissioners, and staff have done over the past 40 years. And perhaps it’s time for them to recognize that supporting affordable housing for Nantucket workers should be included in plans for the future.

Perhaps we should consider a new "Nantucket Islands Land Bank/Housing Bank" as the next project for Land Bank consideration.

Curtis Barnes

Editor's note: The Land Bank's enabling legislation allows it to spend money to benefit the public in three areas: open space, agriculture, and recreation. Housing is not among the allowable uses for Land Bank funds. A citizen petition by Brooke Mohr in 2021 sought to reallocate 25 percent of the Land Bank’s annual funding – which comes from a 2 percent tax on most real estate sales – over a 20-year period to help address Nantucket’s affordable housing crisis. It was defeated with 572 votes in opposition and 205 votes in favor.