OSV Access Is Essential

The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) are stewards of an incredible refuge that was generously donated, with the balance being purchased using public donations in the mid-century. The express purpose was to permanently protect this unique resource for public use. The only reasonable way to allow the public to use it is by allowing respectful, supervised oversand vehicle (OSV) access.

This extraordinary space is simply far too vast with sand too deep to access by foot except for the most superficial visit. Public parking exists for only 20 vehicles for a beach with seven miles of shore! And for those lucky enough to actually find a parking spot, it involves a half mile hike through deep sand just to arrive at the shore.

Clearly this arrangement is not practical for even the most dedicated beachgoers, never mind those with young children, the elderly or the disabled. This is the simple reason why OSV access is the only way to allow the public to use this public beach.

TTOR currently has a functional system to allow respectful permit holders to access the beach. Is this current system perfect? Ample suggestions for improvement seem to suggest it is not. But we must not allow illusionary perfection to be the enemy of functional, legal use.

In addition, banning public OSV access would result in a private sanctuary for 20 homeowners. Is this our societal goal? Converting public land into private use? Is this what Vineyarders desire? I think not.

Removing public OSV access would be diametrically opposed to the stated goal of this property’s existence. I urge the public to make their voice heard at the Edgartown Conservation Commission meeting on Dec. 6 at 4 p.m.

Rich Thompson

Edgartown

Very well said. We should not be creating a private sanctuary for 20 homeowners at the expense of the greater public. Thank you for this thoughtful letter.

Can I drive all over YOUR private property by buying a tag from a third party without a legal right, remuneration or some kind of agreement? - The TTOR keeps purporting to own all the property that is in commerce, yet they sell access to 75 acres of private property and almost 2 miles of trails over private property north of the jetties, plus many more acres of private property that has been usurped to the south. - This is a legal problem as we property owners are legally responsible for anything that might happen on our properties. - I want OSV access, for everyone on the TTOR's 400+ acres, but not on private property. Is that too much to ask?

For ~48 weeks of the year this private land access issue doesn't really matter. Yet here we are. I must say I respectfully reject your argument. We're talking about a mere 6 weeks at most of so called "traffic" in an area that has served such thoroughfare for 40+ years. Let alone, the real demand for beach goers utilizing OSV North of the jetties in your "neighborhood" is sparse. The beaches are rocky and the fine swimming is duly South of the Jetties along East beach. Let alone the journey from Dikes Bridge to the elbow is long and many families are simply not "trampling" through your easements. Nonetheless, the access rights to go North of the jetties are and have been established (until your incessant challenges) and the easements have been honored for generations of families. Your disdain for TTOR is blinding the balance that has worked for so long. With regards to the "land" you claim as your own, having access to this area of Cape Poge Preserve provides some of the most breath taking views on this island and deeded to be a part of more generations of islanders and visitors to enjoy. I've watched this island go bedlam over a roundabout and yet here we are facing prospect of losing an access model that has proven to work time over time. Please diminish your vigor to privatize your private this and legal that because you respectfully have this issue wrongfully skewed through an appetite of litigation. I look forward to this healthy debate on December 6th and urge the TTOR and ECC and our community to step up the campaign to protect access to such a beautiful and pristine part of our island.

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