Unintended Consequences

To the editor: I am writing this open letter to all the caretakers, hospitality, service and retail workers making a living on Nantucket on behalf of my family and other families like ours who own a home on Nantucket but are not full-time residents.

As 26-year homeowners entering our 27th year of providing weekly and three-night minimum off-season stays to visitors of the island, I would like you to know that our need for your services would be significantly reduced if Article 66 is not passed at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

As we approach our 75th and 85th birthdays, we are spending anywhere from one to two months on-island but never more at this time in our lives. Because we have such a long history of renting, we find that our home is routinely rented 20 weeks or 140 days per year on a less than 31-day basis. If articles 67 or 68 pass, we would be required to reduce our visitors’ stays to anywhere from 30 to 60 days per year to equal one day less than we reside on-island each year. If Article 69 passes, we would only be allowed to rent for 70 days for the next 3 years while research is performed. This would effectively reduce our and our guests’ needs for your services anywhere from 50 to 75 percent and your resultant income as well.

Please know zoning bylaw amendments 66 and 67 require a two-thirds vote to pass while General By-Law Amendments 68 and 69 only require a majority vote to pass. Without your NO vote on Articles 68 and 69, it is quite possible they could pass with a majority vote and restrict a homeowner’s right to rent as did zoning bylaw amendment 2 at last September’s Town Meeting which received 55 percent of the vote, but needed two-thirds. 

Please take the time to register to vote by April 23rd, if not already, and attend the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 3rd, at 8:30 a.m. I believe that your livelihood will depend on voting YES on Article 66 to put rentals back into our zoning code and NO on Articles 67, 68, and 69 which would effectively reduce overnight stays on Nantucket. Thank you for all that you do to make Nantucket thrive.

Linda and Dennis Childs