The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has closed its public hearing on Cat Hollow, a proposed mixed-income residential complex in Vineyard Haven, following testimony from opponents and supporters Thursday night.
Further comments on the project may be submitted to the commission in writing until 5 p.m. June 5.
Island Housing Trust is applying to build six deed-restricted condominiums in three duplexes on its land at 25 Lobster Alley, where a three-bedroom house already is occupied by Vineyard Transit Authority workers.
During Thursday night’s hearing, which was continued from Feb. 7, abutters asked the commission not to approve the three duplex buildings, saying they would discharge nitrogen into Lagoon Pond, bring traffic congestion to the neighborhood and pose a fire risk.
“Don’t force people to live like that together. This is not a Vineyard quality project,” said Anna Edey, whose home on Skiff avenue backs up to the Cat Hollow site on Lobster Alley.
Simon Hunton, who owns and operates a nearby inn with his wife Annabelle, expressed concern that Cat Hollow may grow in size beyond the six proposed units.
“I don’t want my guests for the next four or five years being awakened by the sound of nail guns,” he said.
Mr. Hunton said he would rather see a smaller project with two duplex buildings rather than three.
Skiff avenue homeowner Susan Lemoie-Zarba, who in February presented the commission with a petition signed by more than 50 people opposed to the development, pressed for assurance that Cat Hollow would not expand.
She asked that the commission require deed restrictions prohibiting additional bedrooms on the condos’ attic or basement levels.
She and Mr. Hunton both also asked that fire pits be banned or restricted to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Island Housing Trust project manager John Stanwood said that fire pits could be restricted, noting that outdoor fires already are regulated by the state.
Under Massachusetts law, any open fire not used for cooking — including a backyard fire pit — requires a burn permit from the local fire department and must take place between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Jan. 15 to May 1.
Tisbury resident Casey Hayward, who is not an abutter, asked the commission not to approve the project.
“They will expand,” said Ms. Hayward, a member of the town planning board who told the commission she was speaking as an individual in this case.
Ms. Hayward also assailed the income limits for the development, which has two affordable units that are capped at 80 per cent of the median income for this area.
Another two units are capped at 140 per cent of the area median, and the last two will be sold for roughly the cost of construction, Mr. Stanwood said, estimating the income level at 250 per cent of the area median.
Ms. Hayward said Island Housing Trust should be developing more of the lower-income units.
“There are 386 people on the Dukes County [Housing Authority] waiting list that are under 80 per cent,” she said.
Doug Ruskin of West Tisbury, a former chair and longtime member of the Island Housing Trust board, spoke in support of the Cat Hollow project.
“I’ve never been to a hearing where the neighbors didn’t think the project was a problem, and only once was there anybody who was an abutter who agreed it was a good idea,” Mr. Ruskin said, noting that the housing trust has built 160 units over the past 20 years.
“Don’t be enthralled by the hyperbole,” Mr. Ruskin told commissioners. “I think this will end up being as good a project as we’ve ever done before.”
In other business Thursday, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission completed its public hearing on the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club, which is seeking to build a new clubhouse in Edgartown.
Written testimony on the project will be accepted until 5 p.m. May 29.
The club still must submit a landscaping plan to the commission that includes a fence to screen the club from its nearest abutters.
Commissioners declined to take up an application from Centerline Communications to replace antennas mounted on the Tisbury water tank, sending it back to town officials for review.
A hearing on Millers Professionals’ application to expand at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Business Park also closed on Thursday, with written comments to be accepted until 5 p.m. May 29.
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