Town Responds To Letter On Surfside Crossing

To the editor: The claims in (the April 7th) letter are incorrect.

At the request of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Select Board has unanimously authorized an appeal of the Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) proposed decision (to approve the Surfside Crossing 40B housing development with conditions) once it becomes final. This is a formal legal action that supports the ZBA’s unanimous denial of the project.

Counsel has advised that not submitting objections at the proposed decision stage does not waive the right to appeal. Strategic considerations often determine the timing and manner of submitting arguments. The statement that the “Town of Nantucket declined to object to the proposed HAC decision” is disingenuous and distracts from the true legal action: the appeal, which will be filed after the decision becomes final.

The claim that a developer would receive $89 million in taxpayer funds is also incorrect. This figure was not included in any proposal from the Town, and there is no basis for its calculation. In fact, a primary concern during a review several years ago as to whether or not the Town could buy down market units in the development, was the absence of any defined cost to taxpayers.

- Town of Nantucket communications office