With Nantucket At A Crossroads, Article 2 Deserves Our Support

To the editor: It is my opinion that Article 2 deserves support from everyone who values responsible planning and local self-governance. Nantucket is at a crossroads. Years of rapid development, often approved without fully assessing long-term consequences, have placed unprecedented strain on our island’s capacity. From housing shortages and overburdened infrastructure to environmental stress, we are now seeing the effects of planning that failed to keep growth in check.

The island faces competing pressures: housing needs, infrastructure demands, environmental protection, and preservation of our National Historic Landmark status and Environmental Justice Community designation. Yet one fact remains clear - Nantucket has finite capacity. Our roads, water supply, emergency services, and workforce are already stretched thin.

Article 2 isn’t about stopping growth or ending tourism. It’s about restoring a planning process that aligns development with what our community and environment can realistically sustain. Too often, short-term interests have outweighed long-term impacts. The result is cumulative stress on housing, traffic, water, and quality of life that’s neither fair nor sustainable for year-round residents compromising our mutually beneficial relationship between tourism and year-round residence’s quality of life.

Supporting Article 2 is a vote for balance and foresight. It ensures that future growth respects what the island can handle, rather than continuing down a path that risks eroding what makes Nantucket special. Tourism remains vital to our economy and culture, but growth must not exceed what our systems and community can bear.

This is not about fear. It’s about acting with care and accountability before today’s temporary strain becomes tomorrow’s permanent damage.

For those of you that remember my father Whitey, he used to say, “Do the next right thing.” I think that saying applies here so please do the next right thing and vote Yes on Article 2 to keep Nantucket livable, resilient, and true to its character.

Will Willauer