“Candle Street” Discussion Town of Nantucket: Board Of Selectmen Workshop Prepared by the Nantucket Planning Office Andrew V. Vorce, AICP Leslie Woodson-Snell, AICP T. Michael Burns. AICP December 11, 2007

Location Commercial St Straight Wharf New Whale St Candle St Washington St 2.24 acre site off Candle Street 2.24 acre site off Candle Street Adjacent to proposed Transportation Hub Adjacent to proposed Transportation Hub Brownfield Brownfield Adjacent to Nantucket Harbor/preserved open space Adjacent to Nantucket Harbor/preserved open space One of few large parcels near the downtown One of few large parcels near the downtown

Open Space/Harbor views View to the Northeast View to the Southeast “petrol landing” owned by Land Bank

History (1887)

History (1923)

Site (1938)

History Summary Heavy Industrial/Commercial Use Heavy Industrial/Commercial Use Underground pollution Underground pollution Old structures exceeded 30’ height Old structures exceeded 30’ height 4-story building (in historical image), 42’ gas tank, 60’ smokestack 4-story building (in historical image), 42’ gas tank, 60’ smokestack Intensity (structures and use) of site declined as energy production methods changed Intensity (structures and use) of site declined as energy production methods changed

Site Information National Grid owns property National Grid owns property $52, annual taxes $52, annual taxes Assessed value: $21,260,100 Assessed value: $21,260,100 Land: $20,827,800 Land: $20,827,800 Bldg: $ 432,300 Bldg: $ 432,300 New Whale Street and Commercial Street are public ways in easement. New Whale Street and Commercial Street are public ways in easement.

Site Characteristics Remediation underway-long term management necessary Remediation underway-long term management necessary Licenses: Chapter 91 Licenses: Chapter 91 Bulkhead controlled by boat basin Bulkhead controlled by boat basin Easements Easements Allowing access to harbor Allowing access to harbor Allowing access to Harbor Fuel: exp Allowing access to Harbor Fuel: exp Former Electrical Generation ( to 1996) Former Electrical Generation ( to 1996)

Zoning Considerations Residential Commercial (RC) Existing Residential Commercial (RC) Existing 20 Potential Lots 20 Potential Lots 40 Potential Dwelling Units 40 Potential Dwelling Units 50 Percent Ground Cover 50 Percent Ground Cover Maximum Height 30 Feet Maximum Height 30 Feet Residential Commercial Downtown (RCDT) Nearby Residential Commercial Downtown (RCDT) Nearby 25 Potential Lots 25 Potential Lots 50+ Potential Dwelling Units 50+ Potential Dwelling Units 75 Percent Ground Cover 75 Percent Ground Cover Increased Height By Special Permit Increased Height By Special Permit

Timeline 1990 Goals and Objectives - Section C - Growth Management: 1990 Goals and Objectives - Section C - Growth Management: Objective C Central Business District: “… study parking garage.” Objective C Central Business District: “… study parking garage.” Part of site evaluated for Downtown Transportation Center Part of site evaluated for Downtown Transportation Center 4/2005 Planning staff discusses revised plan with newly elected Selectmen 4/2005 Planning staff discusses revised plan with newly elected Selectmen BOS requests broader study of entire area BOS requests broader study of entire area 12/2005-8/2007 NP&EDC discussions in executive session 12/2005-8/2007 NP&EDC discussions in executive session Potential negotiation with National Grid Potential negotiation with National Grid 9/2006 Planning staff discusses goals 9/2006 Planning staff discusses goals BOS executive session-approved BOS executive session-approved Public discussion of Parking Garage begun in May 2007 Public discussion of Parking Garage begun in May 2007

Decision Options Range between “All” or “Nothing” Range between “All” or “Nothing” “All”-Purchase property for public use “All”-Purchase property for public use $30-50 million purchase price $30-50 million purchase price $ for uses-Park? Surface Parking? Management? $ for uses-Park? Surface Parking? Management? Lost tax revenue, legal fees, etc. Lost tax revenue, legal fees, etc. “Nothing”-React to permit applications “Nothing”-React to permit applications Local: Use by right-Special Permit Local: Use by right-Special Permit State: Chapter 91 State: Chapter 91 Rely on permit process Rely on permit process

Decision Options (cont’d) Something in-between “all” or “nothing”? Something in-between “all” or “nothing”? Leverage public benefit through: Leverage public benefit through: Zoning or administrative changes Zoning or administrative changes Access to favorable financing-DIF Access to favorable financing-DIF Permitting Permitting Minimize public expenditures Minimize public expenditures Develop public/private partnership Develop public/private partnership Create district so that “development pays its own way”: All/portion of taxes-revenue pay for infrastructure Create district so that “development pays its own way”: All/portion of taxes-revenue pay for infrastructure Operations through private sector Operations through private sector

Downtown Parking Problem A problem discussed since the 1950’s A problem discussed since the 1950’s Lack of Supply Lack of Supply Congestion due to ferry and Congestion due to ferry and downtown destination traffic Growth Management Growth Management Increasing supply to respond to Increasing supply to respond to population and visitor growth Strategic pricing Strategic pricing

Downtown Parking Alternatives Paid Parking Paid Parking Parking Meters (negative vote by 2004 BOS) Parking Meters (negative vote by 2004 BOS) Peak Pricing (tolls entering downtown) Peak Pricing (tolls entering downtown) Vehicle Limitation Vehicle Limitation Hard cap on vehicles allowed in Core District (negative vote by ATM 1994 odd/even license plate concept) Hard cap on vehicles allowed in Core District (negative vote by ATM 1994 odd/even license plate concept) Expanding supply at Town Parking Lot Expanding supply at Town Parking Lot Purchase adjacent property (remove buildings) Purchase adjacent property (remove buildings) Additional levels of parking Additional levels of parking Relocate high demand uses outside of Downtown Relocate high demand uses outside of Downtown Example: Town Building requires 67 parking spaces Example: Town Building requires 67 parking spaces

“Recent Developments” Greenhound, LLC purchase of Transportation Hub site at 10 and 12 Washington Street Greenhound, LLC purchase of Transportation Hub site at 10 and 12 Washington Street Non-binding ballot question – April 2008 Non-binding ballot question – April 2008 Tank farm relocation?-Capital Plan? Tank farm relocation?-Capital Plan? Harbor Plan Harbor Plan Redevelopment of existing downtown structures/inclusion of structured parking Redevelopment of existing downtown structures/inclusion of structured parking

Requested Action Affirm goals voted by BOS on September 22, 2006: Affirm goals voted by BOS on September 22, 2006: Improve traffic flow Improve traffic flow Promote economic vitality and historic integrity of the CBD Promote economic vitality and historic integrity of the CBD Expand year-round office/commercial space in CBD Expand year-round office/commercial space in CBD Develop under-utilized land resources to address economic / transportation / housing / open space needs. Develop under-utilized land resources to address economic / transportation / housing / open space needs. Enhance public access to waterfront Enhance public access to waterfront Set additional goals?: Set additional goals?: Support Warrant Articles to access state resources and expand development options while providing resources to the Town Support Warrant Articles to access state resources and expand development options while providing resources to the Town Priority Development Site (43D) Priority Development Site (43D) Housing (40R) Housing (40R)

State Sustainability Principles and Smart Growth Conformance with the following: Conformance with the following: Concentrate development and mix-uses in CBD Concentrate development and mix-uses in CBD Use natural resources wisely (green building) Use natural resources wisely (green building) Expand housing opportunities Expand housing opportunities Provide transportation choice Provide transportation choice Increase jobs and business opportunities Increase jobs and business opportunities Plan regionally (coordination with state) Plan regionally (coordination with state)

Questions? Photo Source: Bill Haddon’s Nantucket, An Island Photo Journal from 1950 to Photo Source: Bill Haddon’s Nantucket, An Island Photo Journal from 1950 to 1975.