Fate of 120-acre golf club land in question
Wetlands search on Coffin land sparks development buzz
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
On May 18, the Conservation Commission issued a wetlands delineation for 260 and 270 Milestone Road, property owned by Mitchell Coffin et al and the Estate of Henry Coffin.

The property along Milestone Road is synonymous with wide open vistas ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

In most cases, having a wetlands delineation done for one's property is a precursor to development plans being filed or listing it for sale. While none of the Coffins have stated publicly their intentions for the land totaling just under 120 acres for both lots, Robert J. "Skinner" Coffin did say last week the family is discussing potential uses for it.

At 65.9 acres, 260 Milestone Road is the site of the 113-year-old Siasconset Golf Club, assessed at $8,189,800, while the 53.4 acres of vacant land at 270 Milestone Road is valued at $10,593,700.

In early summer of 2005, the Coffins' 10-year lease of the golf course to the neighboring Nantucket Golf Club expired and supervision of the course reverted to the Coffin family.

After Henry Coffin Jr. died in June 1993, his four children: Henry, Mitchell, Stephanie and Robert sold 250 acres of farmland to the Nantucket Golf Club, which opened its world-class, exclusive 18-hole golf course on the land in 1998.

During its development phase, the new golf club considered the notion of making its course 27 instead of 18 holes, a plan that could have meant the closing of the 65- acre Siasconset Golf Club and the use of that club's existing nine holes. But Club Manager Tom Bresette said Nantucket Golf Club has no intention of such a conversion, preferring that the land remain as passively used open space, although the Nantucket Golf Club does have right of first refusal on the Siasconset Golf Club property and 270 Milestone Road.

Now the future of the Siasconset Golf Club appears to be in play once again, as alluded to last week by Robert Coffin.

"We don't know; it's indefinite," he said. "We got a family meeting coming up here. We got all winter to decide."

Ever vigilant for undeveloped land it can acquire and preserve within 'Sconset, the 'Sconset Trust is well aware of the rumblings and confirmed that the Coffins are talking about what to do with their land.

"The old 'Sconset Golf Club and the remaining Coffin estate land are definitely on our radar," said 'Sconset Trust Executive Director Erika Mooney. "It hasn't been put on the market, but it's my understanding that they're considering it."

According to the Conservation Commission's wetlands delineation, at least a quarter of the combined Coffin properties contain wetlands. Despite that, real estate broker Gary Winn of the Maury People estimates its open market worth at more than double the assessed value, depending on the amount of wetlands on the two properties.

"The whole thing is probably worth in the range of $35 to $40 million," Winn said.

Should the 120 acres ever be developed, there is the potential for around 90 houses on the land. All of 260 Milestone Road is zoned LUG-3, three-acre zoning, and under half of 270 Milestone Road is three-acre zoning, while the rest of the lot is zoned SR-2, half-acre zoning.

Rumors of potential development of the Coffins' 'Sconset land circulated three years ago when Winn purchased six of 13.9 acres from Robert Coffin at 320 Milestone Road for $6 million to develop his 14-lot 'Sconset Hydrangea cluster subdivision currently under construction.

Being two of the largest remaining privately held pieces of undeveloped land on the island means all eyes are on these properties. Although Nantucket Islands Land Bank Executive Director Eric Savetsky would not comment on whether he was in discussions with the Coffins and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation is mum about its potential interest, the 'Sconset Trust is definitely interested.

"It's 120 acres total," said Mooney. "It's the biggest tract of land in 'Sconset, so we absolutely have our eyes on it. If that were ever developed, that would completely

change the look of 'Sconset as you drive in." I