(May 16, 2024) There are two challengers for the Land Bank Commission seat of longtime incumbent John Stackpole, who is running for his fifth term.
As the commission begins to shift from an entity mainly focused on property acquisition, to one that now has to deal with property management, issues like coastal resilience, recreation and agriculture are topics that have come to the forefront of the race.
John Stackpole
Stackpole has served on the Land Bank Commission since 2004 and said there are a number of projects in the works now that he wants to see completed. Those include the Lily Pond restoration project, the Creeks Overlook behind Our Island Home and Consue Springs.
“We have 16 or 17 projects lined up, some that will cost millions of dollars, just making use of the land that we have already bought,” he said. “Coastal resiliency is going to be big, over a period of many years, and we’re getting more into agriculture all the time.”
Stackpole said it’s his experience that is one of his greatest assets on the commission.
“I’ve been involved for 20 years, and I know what’s going on,” he said. “I’m right on top of all these projects, and it’s important to keep them going and not lose any traction.”
The Creeks Overlook project is one that he said he’s very excited about. It’s will enhance a one-acre area behind Our Island Home that abuts East Creek, not only aesthetically but with a restoration component to the wetlands as well. It’s an ideal example of what the Land Bank can do with a property once it is acquired.
“We are going to have a little wharf in there and a viewing platform, it’s going to be beautiful. For the people in Our Island Home, it will be a godsend for them,” he said.
John Bartlett
Bartlett said his decision to run for Land Bank came because he wanted to be involved again in local government, after volunteering for long-range strategic planning groups. He said being born and raised on Nantucket he knows how important the Land Bank is to life on the island.
“It’s definitely one of the marquee institutions,” he said. “It has such a big impact on our quality of life, access to public beaches, public waterways, and maintaining waterfront access. As property gets more and more expensive, it’s important to make sure that these areas are protected. Growing up as a kid, I certainly can appreciate having these areas still available.”
Bartlett, who is the CEO of Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, said he can bring a level of experience and expertise that could be a real asset to the Land Bank.
“Running a business, looking at budgets and working with town boards to get projects permitted and through, I feel that skill set is something that I can add to the commission,” he said.
Bartlett would also be following in the footsteps of his father, Phil Bartlett’s. The elder Bartlett was an original commissioner on the Land Bank.
He pointed to the Land Bank’s Lily Pond restoration project as an example of utilizing property to get the most out of its, something that has become more of a focus as there is less property to acquire.
“It’s a multi-faceted project that’s going to help with drainage, it’s going to provide public access and educational opportunities as well, to inform the public of what this wetland does and why it’s important to protect,” he said.
As the CEO of Bartlett’s Farm, Bartlett said he has a unique insight on the Land Bank’s push toward sustainable agriculture, by leasing parts of its properties to local farmers. He said it’s an initiative that he supports, but it should be done slowly and cautiously so that the Land Bank is supporting but not subsidizing local farming.
“It should be done slowly, and to make sure whoever is using Land Bank properties is contributing back to the community for the privilege of using Land Bank property,” he said.
“There is potentially a lot of (Land Bank) land they could develop for agriculture. And I think supply and demand usually dictates whether or not someone’s in business. So, it’s important to make sure they have the markets and they have the ability to sell that product along with the existing farms.
Kelly Steffen
Steffen believes the island is at an inflection point. And as the second-largest property owner on Nantucket, the Land Bank will be at the forefront of major decisions about continued development, climate change and food supply.
“We are at a small percentage of land that can be conserved or developed,” he said. “As a community we need to bring the biggest players in the room to make decisions together for a long-term strategy, rather than everybody operating kind of silos.”
Steffen said he sees the Land Bank’s role shifting toward less property acquisition and more management, outreach and education.
As the Land Bank continues to pursue a more active role in agriculture, Steffen said he thinks there is an opportunity to open up more channels of demand though places like the hospital and schools and senior living facilities.
“With a local food system significantly more money stays in the local economy. And you have better long-term health the more people are eating local food,” he said. “While I think there’s a concern about competition, I think what we should be focused on is creating demand channels.”
Steffen, 35, who moved full time to Nantucket in 2016 and once worked for The Inquirer and Mirror, said he has become much more active in local government and non-profit organizations in recent years.
“I realize people don’t know enough about me. But if you look at my record, all I’ve done is work on behalf of the community,” he said. “
Steffen volunteered at the Nantucket Food Pantry during the pandemic, has joined the town’s Town Council Study Committee, the Agricultural Committee, the Council for Human Services and is part of the Land Bank’s Community Garden Planning Workgroup.
“I think last year, (lack of) experience was one of my hand-icaps,” he said. “But I’ve since (gotten much more involved).”
Steffen works as a systems strategist at Process First, a data and tech firm that specializes in social impact work relating to food, health and the environment.
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