WORK GROUP SETTLES ON BYLAW PROPOSALS

Nantucket’s Short-Term Rental Work Group has finalized its proposal for new regulations on short-term vacation rentals on Nantucket, agreeing to put forward a series of bylaws for voters to consider at a special town meeting in November. The bylaws would limit short-term rental (STR operators to renting a single property, though they could rent multiple dwellings on the property as long as they are rented to the same party under the same contract. They would also block corporate ownership unless every shareholder or partner is a “natural person”—meaning an actual human being and not a corporate entity—and legalize STRs by right across the island. Additionally, the proposed regulations would block STRs in units that are deed restricted for affordable or attainable housing and limit STRs to a maximum of four weeks in apartments. In most cases, even if the bylaws are passed by voters, they won’t affect existing STRs as they would be considered “grandfathered.”

Master Chief Andrew Babione was honored by Station Brant Point Thursday morning at the station’s Change of Command Ceremony for his 27 years of service in the United States Coast Guard. As Babione was honored, the island’s Coast Guard also welcomed in their new master chief, Lance Wiser, who comes to Nantucket with over 20 years of experience. His previous assignment was as Officer in Charge Station Charleston, South Carolina. This will be the third island he has served on, with previous stops at Station San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Hopefully I fit in well. I am a big Red Sox fan,” Wiser said. “But just the history and the small-town community I mean, the Coast Guard here is the only show in town militarywise. Meanwhile, in these larger cities like Charleston, there is this massive military presence. It is exciting to be a part of a smalltown community, especially in the wintertime when I know it gets slow. We have been part of small towns before and always enjoy a small-town community feel.”