Editors, Vineyard Gazette;

I’m writing to draw attention to Article #87 on the town warrant for the Edgartown town meeting. The article will compel the select board to sell the lot at 294 Chappaquiddick Road for conservation and use the proceeds for affordable housing where appropriate. Please vote Yes on this at town meeting, which takes place on April 8.

The three-acre lot is entirely within NHESP core habitat, connecting to hundreds of acres of protected land to the north and west. It marks the border between habitat and developed areas. A non-tidal marsh and its 100-foot buffer, together with set-backs, account for about two acres, leaving less than an acre for housing, parking and septic. This marsh extends toward the old dump and the Land Bank 5 Corner Preserve to the south and to Cape Pogue Bay to the north, creating a critical ecological corridor. The Webquish Woodlands area of Pimpneymouse Farm abuts the lot to the north, connecting directly to hundreds of Land Bank acres and miles of trails.

Just because the town acquires property through tax foreclosure doesn’t mean it’s suitable for affordable housing. Planning guidelines emphasize accessibility to transportation; proximity to employment, services and amenities; build or rehab in built-up areas; reduce per unit costs using existing infrastructure like roads, sewer and water; minimize impact on fragile, critical eco-systems.

This Chappy lot fails to meet any of these criteria.

While some in need of housing may want to live on Chappaquiddick, even if the town intends to subsidize the initial costs, the high cost of living on Chappy cannot be ignored. Everything you know about the cost of living on Martha’s Vineyard is increased for those living on Chappy. Do you think it is the place for building affordable housing?

Developers estimate that high costs will limit applicants to those earning at least 140 per cent of the area median income. Applicants would need an annual income of $134,000, and families of four would need $192,000 — greater than three out of four Dukes County taxpayers.

Charges that the wealthy are just trying to keep this land for their exclusive use are ill founded. How does the public use of open space compare to housing for the exclusive use of the successful qualified applicants?

Housing advocates need not worry about land not being available if this lot remains as open space. Currently in the planning stage across the island are 319 housing units of which 218 are to be affordable. With the sign of the pen, the state is mandating that all towns allow two dwellings on any buildable lot. Developers will respond and it will be open space that will take the hit.

The Affordable Housing Committee envisions spending between $50,000 and $200,000 of taxpayer funds to develop this lot. Then more subsidies will be required for building. Edgartown taxpayers should instead seize the opportunity to accept the conservationists’ funds to use for housing elsewhere and vote yes on Article #87.

Roger Becker
Chappaquiddick