LETTERS
SEND YOUR LETERS TO THE EDITOR: DON@NANTUCKETINDEPENDENT.COM In the form of letters to the Nantucket Planning Board, many Nantucketers have expressed their concern over Bob Matthews' redevelopment of the Point Breeze Hotel on Easton and North Beach streets - in particular Phase Two of that project.

Matthews already has permits from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Historic District Commission along with a building permit, for Phase One of the project, on which he is proceeding. (see related item in Field Notes).

Matthews returns to the Planning Board on Jan. 14 to present his revised Phase Two plan. Readers are encouraged to share their comments about this project by emailing their letters to don@nantucketindependent. com, or mailing to The Nantucket Independent, 15 North Beach St., Nantucket, Mass. 02554.

The following letters were originally sent to the Nantucket Planning Board and are reprinted here.

IT BELONGS IN ATLANTIC CITY

To the board:

I am writing to express strong opposition to the design of the Point Breeze Hotel.

I am a third generation Nantucket summer resident that has been coming to the island for all of my 60 years. I met my wife here, bought a house in town in 1981, then moved to Brant Point in 1988. Our five children have grown up here. We have been active in a number of island causes, principally the Nantucket Historical Association of which I am a board member.

I have seen the drawing for the project, an am shocked that such a design could be considered appropriate by anyone who knows and respects this island. The scope, density and scale of the development outrageously exceed HDC guidelines and any reasonable design standards for Nantucket.

The economic and spiritual health of Nantucket depends upon preserving its character as a family resort that maintains architectural and land conservation, and historically appropriate construction design. Buildings like the proposed

Point Breeze belong in Atlantic City, not Nantucket. Thank you for your consideration of this letter.

Sincerely,

- Jay M. Wilson

24 Brant Point Rd.

SAVE THE ATMOSPHERE

To the board:

I am totally opposed to Phase Two expansion on Point Breeze complex. Traffic congestion and existing water problems will increase. It is a very unfortunate addition to Brant Point's traditional rural locale and setting. It would be a disgrace to the long standing atmosphere!

Sincerely,

- Philip Coffin

35 Walsh St.

DETRIMENTAL PRECEDENT

To the board:

This letter is to express my opposition to Phase II of the Point Breeze project. The proposed plan seems totally out of line with the neighborhood and the island. Not only is the proposed height of the hotel excessive and inappropriate, it exceeds the HDC guidelines and would set a detrimental island-wide precedent.

In addition there would be a negative effect on the already overburdened island traffic especially in the summer months when there are added delivery trucks, vehicles of the private seasonal residents and their guests and boat trailer traffic.

Another concern is water drainage. It seems that the underground garage would displace water in an area where storm drainage is already a severe problem.

In view of the above issues, I must emphatically oppose the Phase II plans for the Point Breeze Hotel.

Sincerely,

- Nelson Doubleday

28 Easton Street

OF NO BENEFIT TO TOWN

To the board:

It is time to be concerned about the direction the high density development now being planned in the Brant Point and Easton Street areas are taking.

The character of Nantucket could be changed forever and I am very much opposed to the proposed expansion. The town does not benefit by the addition of more large service trucks that would be needed to support such a development.

Please use every means possible to stop this trend. We need to remain a family oriented community and not a transient corporate playground. The recent request for tall buildings indicates only a concern for profit, not for the welfare of the traditions of Nantucket.

We have a unique and precious island we need to preserve for the generations to come.

Sincerely,

- Nancy Ernst

22 North Water St.

WILL BRANT POINT BECOME THE NEXT VENICE?

To the board:

As a homeowner on Nantucket and, especially, as a resident of Brant Point, I am greatly disturbed by the scope, density and scale of the proposed plan for Phase II of the Point Breeze construction project and the impact it will have, not only on the local area, but on the island.

Of obvious concern is the dramatic negative affect this project would have on traffic in the area with delivery trucks, private vehicles of residents, staff and guests competing with boat trailer traffic in a neighborhood already overburdened with too many moving and parked vehicles, and the confusion of pedestrians trying to navigate the whole mess.

Also needing attention is the water displacement resulting from an underground garage in an area where drainage and flooding is already a serious problem. Where will this water go? Will Brant Point become the next Venice?

The scope of this project sets an island wide precedent that should be of concern, as well, in addition to the excessive height (48') of the proposed new hotel, a height that is entirely inappropriate for this area and almost 50 percent higher than currently allowed by HDC guidelines.

Please give careful thought to any approval for this project.

- Judith K. Rushmore

27 Walsh St.

POORLY PLANNED EXPANSION

To the board: I am a long term resident of Brant Point. I am the original owner of a home at 13 Walsh Street, which was purchased in 1978. My wife and I enjoyed seasonal living in Nantucket for many years.

I am most distressed by the proposed plan of Phase II of the Point Breeze project for many reasons, but primarily for the scope, density and scale of the project. It undoubtedly will have a direct, adverse effect on my location in Brant Point. As a result, I want to bring to your attention my strong objections to permitting Phase II to be approved.

I want to join my neighbors in recommending that you deny the developer permission for this poorly planned expansion.

Sincerely,

- Stephen Jacobs

13 Walsh Street

UNDERGROUND ISSUES

To the board:

I am sure you are getting an earful of comments from various folks about the massive scale of the Point Breeze Phase 2 project, but I want to bring your attention to a concern that we wish not to be overlooked: below grade structures will increase the already large predisposition of flooding in the area. Please let common sense guid ethe decision to employ below grade structures and foundations.

We have learned that our property is regulated by building codes created to protect us from building where we shouln't: in flood zones. This protects us and insurance companies from bad behavior. Residential buildings in this zone are not allowed to have enclosed below-grade cellars. We also learned that the rules are more lax for commercial properties. Frankly, this makes no sense to us, but increases our insistence that the "Barn" property not be allowed to be a commercial structure as part of the hotel where the plans call for underground, below-grade cellars (bowling alley and the like).

We plead with your common sense to mitigate future flooding problems by "nipping them in the bud." Do not allow these proposed cellars to be built as we all in the Nantucket community will all end up paying when they do flood.

Thank you in advance for your efforts to get the right outcome for the community.

- Thomas Little and Sara Brown

9 North Ave.

NOT IN KEEPING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD

To the board:

We are opposed to Phase II of the Point Breeze Project because the scope, density and scale of the proposed plan are completely out of keeping with the neighborhood and the island.

Additionally we feel:

• It would set an island wide precedent

• The height is excessive and higher than HDC guidelines

• Negative impact on traffic

• The impact of displaced water would exacerbate the existing drainage problem of Brant Point

- Robert & Maureen Dobies

34B Walsh Street 22 Brant Point Road