Under its current laws, the Nantucket Land Bank can use revenue from a two percent fee on real estate sales to buy land for open space, recreation, or agriculture. Recently, community groups have urged the Land Bank to broaden its focus. They want support for things like affordable housing or indoor recreation centers.
In response, the Land Bank has started to shift its priorities. Commissioners are now considering building an indoor recreation facility and have acknowledged the urgent need to address the island’s housing crisis. They stated it’s time to move beyond just acquiring open space.
A big step in this new direction is a joint purchase of a property on Boynton Lane. This site aims to become a food security hub, housing both the Food Pantry and a commercial kitchen to process donated deer meat for locals in need. But this raised questions: how does this fit into the Land Bank’s mission?
Kristina Jelleme, chair of the Land Bank Commission, noted that they’ve wanted an abattoir for agricultural use for a long time. Both she and executive director Rachael Freeman believe that processing venison qualifies as agricultural activity and they are exploring the possibility of extending this to other livestock like poultry and cattle.
Freeman acknowledged that community members might have concerns. They are aware of the regulatory limits and want to ensure everything aligns with their mission. “We understand how our act operates,” she said, highlighting their careful approach to this collaboration.
Currently, the specifics of how the collaboration with Nourish Nantucket and the Food Pantry will work are still being finalized. Freeman couldn’t confirm how the space would be split or whether the Land Bank would provide direct funding to the Food Pantry but emphasized the benefits of working together. “It made sense to collaborate,” Freeman said.
The Land Bank aims to garner community support and engage local hunters in this initiative. They’re not just focused on increasing deer populations but want to ensure smooth operations for this center. To support these efforts, they’re looking to hire a seasonal venison processing manager.
In a recent survey, 70% of Nantucket residents expressed the need for better food security on the island. This initiative could bridge that gap and strengthen community ties. By adapting their mission, the Land Bank is responding to pressing community needs while staying within the limits of their current laws.
For more details on the Land Bank’s mandate, check out their official site here.
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