A controversial Oak Bluffs boat storage facility planned for a section of town along the Tisbury border was approved by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday.

The commission struggled with Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard’s proposal to build a boat repair workshop and 5,000-square foot outdoor boat storage pad on Holmes Hole Road, saying the project was an economic benefit for the community but also raised environmental concerns.

But, after about 90 minutes of discussion, the commission signed off on the project by a vote of 11-2. Commissioners Ben Robinson and Jay Grossman were the no votes. Jeff Agnoli abstained.

The shipyard, which is based along the Vineyard Haven waterfront, proposed the new facility as part of a retreat due to rising tides in the area. The project, located in a wedge of Oak Bluffs that abuts Tisbury on two sides, has been opposed by its residential neighbors, who fear it will hurt the character of the neighborhood and pose a threat to the nearby wellheads. 

Several commissioners lamented the clearing of ancient forest that would result from building the boatyard. 

“This is a very tough one because of the loss of woodland, and also because the neighbors are vociferously opposed to it....But I think the applicant has done everything they could possibly do to mitigate the risks that have been identified,” said commission member Doug Sederholm.  

Other members felt the project revealed flaws in the commission’s process for reviewing projects. Created in 1974, the commission weighs projects by determining if they are a benefit, a detriment or neutral in several categories, including open space, the environment and the economy of the Island. 

Just about every project that is proposed will have some detriments to open space and the environment, when compared to leaving a lot undisturbed, making it hard to make judgements, commissioners said. 

“We are constrained by the enabling legislation to identify the benefits and detriments, so we actually have to call it one or the other,” said commissioner Fred Hancock.

The commission did determine that the benefit of having a boatyard on Martha’s Vineyard was a benefit for the economy and important to the Island’s deep maritime history, despite the drawbacks of chopping down forest. 

“I just think this whole thing is a win, win, win,” said commission member Clarence (Trip) Barnes. “There are 25 guys pulling a decent living out of it, they all live on the Island, which is great, and it’s the best thing that could happen.”

As part of the approval, the commission stipulated that all boats stored on the property have to be on the concrete pad. Fiberglass work, washing hulls and the repair and installation of lead keels are all prohibited at the site.