Dear Nantucket Tipping Point Supporters,
We’re reaching out to share an important update: members of Nantucket Tipping Point, as concerned island residents, have officially submitted an Environmental Justice (EJ) petition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This petition asks for a fail-safe review of the proposed Surfside Crossing development under the protections provided by the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Law.
Specifically, residents have requested that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) use its Fail-Safe authority under 301 CMR 11.04. This request is based on the serious potential impacts the development poses—particularly to the Environmental Justice population that lives in the surrounding area. These impacts include concerns related to environmental quality, public health, and equity.
We are calling for fairness and asking that the tools of environmental justice be used as they were intended—to protect vulnerable communities. What we’re asking for is transparency, accountability, and meaningful safeguards for our health, environment, and heritage.
The Fail-Safe provision was created exactly for situations like this—where a project might meet some regulatory requirements but still poses a clear and significant threat to the community. This is one of those situations.
We believe by ignoring the Environmental Justice Law, the developers and the Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) are acting in violation of Massachusetts state law—laws specifically designed to protect Environmental Justice communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Governor Maura Healey has made it clear that Environmental Justice is central to her climate agenda. She described the state’s EJ Strategy as a “significant step in identifying concrete ways to increase public participation and ensure the voices of marginalized communities are at the table.” We believe it’s time those words are put into action here on Nantucket.
We truly couldn’t do any of this without your continued support. Whether you’re writing letters, donating, attending meetings, or simply staying engaged, we are incredibly grateful to have you by our side.
This petition is another reminder of what makes Nantucket so special: its people. You can view the petition, map and motion here:
https://nantuckettippingpoint.org/ejpetitiondocuments
and thank you for continuing to stand with us!
Warmly,
The Nantucket Tipping Point Team
Dear Nantucket Tipping Point Supporters,
Thanks to your continued support and shared commitment to preserving the health, safety, welfare, and fragile environment of our island, Nantucket Tipping Point has made remarkable progress over the past years—but our work is not done!
Since our founding, Nantucket Tipping Point has worked tirelessly to protect the island’s fragile ecosystems, safeguard public resources, advocate for responsible development, and promote good governance.
We are thrilled to share that, after years of relentless advocacy and community mobilization, this past April the Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted unanimously 5-0 to deny the high-density Surfside Crossing development. It was seven years ago that many of you joined us in standing-room-only at the High School auditorium to voice your concerns over this risky development. The unanimous denial marks a major victory not just for our island’s environment and infrastructure, but for transparency, accountability, and good governance island wide.
Nantucket Tipping Point has been at the forefront of this fight from day one. With your support, we’ve helped shine a light on a development process that too often favored speed over substance and special interests over the public good.
By closely monitoring every stage of the Surfside Crossing 40B process—from initial filings to public hearings—we ensured that decision makers were held accountable and that public voices were not ignored. Nantucket Tipping Point exposed the procedural flaws and environmental risks associated with the proposal, raising serious concerns about:
Through consistent legal and policy advocacy, expert testimony, and factual evidence, we supported the ZBA in denying this high-density project.
Increased public participation in local governance, including higher turnout at hearings, robust resident commentary, and stronger community understanding of local laws—was a key outcome of this effort. We are grateful to the many community members who spoke up, not because they were paid by the developer, but because it was the right thing to do. This decision reaffirms the importance of process and principles in land-use decisions, pushing back against outdated 40B mandates that threaten to override local control and long-term planning.
This outcome sends a strong message: Nantucket belongs to all of us, and our voices matter.
But the fight isn’t over!
The developers behind Surfside Crossing have already appealed to the state Housing Appeals Committee, and we fully expect a costly legal battle. Defending this hard-won progress will require:
Nantucket Tipping Point remains true to our mission:
“To educate for responsible development so as to protect the long-term sustainability of Nantucket’s finite resources, infrastructure, natural environment, and National Historic Landmark Designation by educating and encouraging Nantucket’s residents, visitors, town officials, and leadership to do the same.”
Since our inception in 2018, we have:
We’ve proven time and again that a small, determined group can protect a place they love—but only with the support of people like you. The coming year is critical: several proposed projects threaten to further tip the balance of our delicate community, and the need for watchful, active advocacy has never been greater.
That’s why we’re asking you to renew your support with a tax-deductible contribution today. Your donation will go directly toward legal fees, research, community outreach, and the daily work of defending our island from irreversible harm.
With your help, we will continue to speak out, stand up, and protect what makes Nantucket so extraordinary.
Thank you for standing up with us.
Sincerely,
Nantucket Tipping Point
P.S. Every donation—no matter the size—makes a difference.
You can donate online at or by mailing a check to the address below.
Let’s keep Nantucket in balance.