Vision Statement for Nantucket Master Plan Update

By 2045, Nantucket will have addressed our greatest challenges—housing affordability, sea level rise, climate change, traffic congestion, water pollution, balancing growth and preservation, and making our local government effective and inclusive. As a result, we will maintain a thriving year-round community of diverse residents and visitors who can prosper while preserving our beautiful natural and historic resources. We will be known as an island that chose the past and the future, an island that preserved what we love and left our island better than we found it. Nantucket will be a place where pristine beaches and open spaces flourish; essential workers, seasonal employees, and multi-generational families can access housing; walking, bicycling, using transit, or driving is safe and efficient; water in our wells, ponds, harbors, and ocean is clean; necessary goods and services are available on island; meaningful jobs and expanded opportunities enable residents to thrive year-round; and efficient local government includes and serves all residents. We are committed to this future because our community values caring for each other, stewarding our irreplaceable natural and historic heritage, and ensuring that the Nantucket we love remains a home for generations to come. To achieve this vision, our priorities are to:

• Preserve our precious coastal ecosystems and manage our exceptional conservation areas to maximize their ecological benefits and beauty
• Clean and protect our harbors, ponds, and drinking water supplies
• Prepare for sea level rise and climate change
• Create housing opportunities that support a diverse year-round population—from essential and seasonal workers to families with deep roots in the community
• Improve the safety and efficiency of our transportation systems by prioritizing walking, cycling, and public transit, and reducing discretionary vehicle trips
• Prioritize new development that respects the natural and historic character of the island while providing attainable housing and essential services where they are most needed
• Diversify our economy for sustainable growth that allows us to protect our natural and historic resources, maintain our infrastructure, ensure essential goods and services remain available on the island, and expand livable year-round employment opportunities for residents
• Welcome and integrate residents and visitors of all backgrounds and income levels, provide high quality education and recreational opportunities for youth, and ensure older adults can access the services they need
• Make our local government more transparent, accessible, and representative of all who call Nantucket home

What is a vision statement for a master plan?

A vision statement is a brief summary of the key aspirations motivating a community Master Plan. It describes what a community wants to accomplish over the lifetime of the Master Plan. It often names the key challenges the town wants to address, describes what success would look like, and points toward shared community values. The vision statement is just one part of Nantucket’s Master Plan, which is currently under development. The Master Plan will also include documentation and analysis of a variety of aspects of Nantucket—for example, housing, transportation, open space, community services and facilities—and an implementation plan with goals and specific actions that the town intends to achieve.

Where did this vision statement come from?

The draft vision statement is based on public input gathered for the Master Plan to date, including the community survey, kitchen table conversations, and the Master Plan Visioning Workshop that was held on April 4 and 5, 2025 (read the Visioning Workshop Summary and Meeting Notes here and watch the recordings for Day 1 and Day 2. Several vision statement alternatives were drafted by Dodson & Flinker, part of Nantucket’s consultant team for the Master Plan. The Planning Board reviewed and revised the draft vision alternatives at their meetings on June 9 and June 23rd 2025 and finalized and adopted the vision statement during a public hearing held on July 14 and August 11, 2025.