CURRENT WORK

The Nantucket Good Neighbor Pledge

A PLEDGE TO OUR NEIGHBORS

As most of you know, the right to rent one’s Nantucket home to visitors was threatened this past year. Although Article 90 was soundly defeated, it would have resulted in the forced sale of homes families enjoyed for decades as well as severe economic harm to the island’s tourist-based economy.  We have welcomed our guests to the island whether for a day, a week or a lifetime. The warm welcome extended to visitors from far-away lands is a Nantucket tradition going back centuries.

However, the growth in popularity of Nantucket has impacted noise, traffic, light pollution, housing and parking, all important quality of life considerations on a small island.

The worsening of these problems is due to many factors, not only short-term rentals, but as owners we need to do our part to improve the situation.   The Select Board cannot simply enact new regulations.   Everything must go to a vote at the annual town meeting, with zoning amendments requiring a 2/3 vote.  

In the interim, short-term rental owners, organized under Nantucket Together are taking the initiative to try to make some improvements. 

You will find attached to this note a “Pledge” we are including with our lease and circulating to our guests.    We are also contributing to a (to be implemented) registry of visitors where there has been damage to our home or any home, or where a police report has been filed due to a disturbance.   

In summary, if we are unable to self-regulate in some manner, ultimately regulation and restriction will be forced upon us.  Thus, we are trying the “Good Neighbor” approach as a first step and plan to extend it to car rental agencies, real estate brokers, island transportation agencies, visitor’s services and hotels, inns and B&Bs.

• What does the “Nantucket Good Neighbor Pledge” mean in practice?  

1. Screening the quality of our guests (no parties or under age 25 lessees)

2. Communicating to our guests the importance of limiting:

a. Noise:  from the property at all times of day, but especially in the evening.  

b.   Light pollution: minimizing lighting at night, especially outdoors.

c. Traffic: emphasizing the island is very “bikeable,” to limit the number of cars; no more than one for every 5 people renting a home and encouraging the use of the NRTA/WAVE.

d. Parking:  If guests are visiting a home, making arrangements to not block streets during that time, and encouraging more walking and biking in to town.

• How can you help?  

1. Our Nantucket phone number is (xxx) xxx-xxxxOur cell numbers are (xxx) xxx-xxxx and (yyy) yyy-yyyy. Our email addresses are: xxxxxxxxxxxx.com and yyyyyyyyy.com . If anything at all appears to be in violation of the attached pledge that our guests have made to us, please contact us immediately so we can attempt to resolve the situation quickly.
2. If we are unable to respond or correct the problem, please feel free to report the issue to the police.
3. Inappropriate behavior includes excessive noise, exterior light pollution, cars blocking the road, improperly stored trash, open doors/windows once guests have departed, visible storm or other damage, etc.  

Warmly,

Xxxxxx & Yyyyyyyyy & Nantucket Together (www.nantuckettogether.org)

Thank you, & please let us know if there are other ways for us to be good neighbors to you!