Rising sea levels, beach amenities, downtown vitality and affordable housing are among the subjects that top the priority list as Oak Bluffs begins to develop a revised master plan for the historic seaside town.

A standing room-only crowd packed the Oak Bluffs library meeting room Tuesday evening, eager to provide feedback on the latest draft of the master plan.

Voters approved $100,000 at their 2018 town meeting to create the document intended to guide municipal decisions and policy. A subcommittee appointed by the planning board has been working on the project for the past year. The previous master plan was completed in 1998.

“It’s an advisory document to help us guide the community in the future,” said planning board chairman Ewell Hopkins. “Understanding where we are, understanding where we’re going, the vision of where we want to be, and identifying how we get there.”

Large crowd turned out to work on a new blueprint for the future. — Steve Myrick

The first part of the meeting took the form of a workshop, where people offered suggestions and opinions on the four main sections of the master plan draft. Facilitators then presented a consensus of the feedback and accepted public comment. Master plan committee member Jamie Kageleiry talked about a section of the plan aimed at protecting important resources, reflecting feedback offered earlier in the meeting.

“There’s a theme here,” Ms. Kageleiry said. “People are very concerned about our beaches and some of the amenities of our beaches. Several people mentioned porta-potties or toilets, not just at Inkwell and Pay Beach, and not forget about some of our other beaches, Jetty Beach, Sailing Camp.”

Committee member Bill Cleary addressed the part of the plan that deals with managing growth and change.

“The biggest consensus resolved around housing,” he said. “Then it went toward aging population, and accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as trash downtown and traffic.”

Oak Bluffs selectman and master plan committee member Mike Santoro facilitated the part of the plan that addresses emerging issues.

“It’s no secret, the number one issue is sea level rise,” Mr. Santoro said. “It’s coming. How do we protect our coastal infrastructure.”

Selectman and master plan committee member Brian Packish talked about a broad category in the master plan that covers efforts to meet community needs. Among the issues he addressed were the nonprofit organizations located in Oak Bluffs.

“We heard that the town should consider a PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] program,” Mr. Packish said. “Entities like the YMCA, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, regional entities that the town of Oak Bluffs seems to be bearing the brunt of these service needs, things like EMS, police, fire.”

In the coming months, the committee is scheduled to complete its work and present a final master plan to the planning board, which has the final say on whether to accept it.