In response to James Lengyel’s op-ed in the Gazette: Everyone on Martha’s Vineyard is extremely grateful the land bank has be so remarkably successful in protecting land for the past 30 years and has been part of many affordable housing developments as far back as the 1990s. And although the land bank did suggest as far back as the 1990s that there should be legislation to add a half per cent to the current two per cent collected from real estate transactions, that hasn’t happened. Some say it is not possible because of the real estate lobby.

I agree with the statement: “Vineyarders need not pit conservation and affordable housing against each other. We can do both.”

The Island Housing Trust website says: “Over the past nine years we have sold and rented over 70 homes and apartments . . . Our goal is to double the annual rate . . . by 2020” That means over the past nine years, the rate is about seven homes per year and the goal is to get it up to approximately 14 per year, or as some say, as much as 20 to 25 per year.

I’m told the estimate of affordable houses needed is at least 500 dwellings. Some say as much as 650 dwellings. At the current rate we won’t reach that goal for as many as 93 years, and with the best case-scenario we reach that goal in 30 years. Based on these numbers, one could believe it’s somewhere in between — say 50 to 60 years. Meanwhile, we are losing individuals and families, including but not limited to: young families, teachers, nurses, landscapers and carpenters. All because they can’t afford decent housing on the Vineyard.

Since the land bank can’t manage without all its income, we need to look elsewhere for land acquisition. I suggest all the other conservancies collectively consider releasing 200 acres (less than one per cent of what is in conservancy) in small parcels that are carefully selected, and design smart, affordable houses clustered together. With approximately 24,000 acres currently in conservation, the odds are great that releasing less than one per cent would not harm the total aggregate or the ecology. And let’s not forget, approximately a third of the Island, nearly 20,000 acres, is still undeveloped, so there is a great deal still available for more conservation. This is not pitting conservation against affordable housing. Instead, it is collectively stepping back, taking an overview and re-evaluating our plan for the future so we are successful when it comes to both conservancy and an economically diversified population. I agree we can do both. We are bountiful and just need to collectively explore new ideas as to how to reshuffle the deck.

Paul Lazes
Vineyard Haven