More than 20 people aired their views this week on the long-running Chappaquiddick oversand vehicle debate ahead of the zoning board of appeals hearing next month. 

For over an hour before the Edgartown select board Monday, residents and beachgoers outlined their thoughts on access, permitting and management of the miles of sandy trails by the Trustees of Reservations. The issue resurfaced this month when a Chappy homeowner filed an appeal that claimed the Trustees did not get all of the permits it needs to operate the trails along Cape Pogue.

To some, the appeal was part of a campaign to restrict access to the beaches. Others argued the appeal was a necessary step to ensure the Trustees followed all of the rules. 

Darci Schofield, the Islands director for the Trustees, said the Trustees has all of the permits that the nonprofit needs to allow people to drive out to the beaches. 

“These lands provide economic, environmental, education, and resilience benefits to the entire Island,” she told the select board. “Preserving responsible access to them serves everyone because conservation is not simply about protecting land; it is about protecting the public’s connection to that land forever.”

The current permitting pickle stems from the Trustees initial special permit in 1990. Though there are minutes of that permit, the town offices and the Trustees can’t find the actual permit.

Without the permit in hand, the Trustees had to apply for another with the planning board last year. The Trustees application focused on its buildings on Chappaquiddick and was approved in May. 

But some members of the public, including William Gazaille, the resident whose appeal is before the zoning board on August 5, are questioning if the Trustees also needs a special permit to operate the oversand vehicle trails. 

Proponents of the appeal argued that the Trustees is operating a commercial business that exceeded the initial permit from 1990. 

“It’s never been an intent of the people to close [the beach] down,” said Mr. Gazaille. “We don’t want our own private playground. We just want the people that are bringing people out here to follow the rules that everybody else in every town has to follow.”

Peter Sliwkowski, the president of the Martha’s Vineyard Beachgoers Access Group, said the appeal is another attempt to prolong the permitting process. 

“It concerns me that after 18 months, completing this review and writing decisions, we’re just circling again,” he said.

In addition to the dozens of town residents in attendance at Monday’s select board meeting, well over 100 letters were submitted to the town on the issue. 

“You’ve seen the number of letters submitted in this matter,” said Alexis Bolandonio, a resident of Chappaquiddick. “Some may view this as evidence that additional oversight isn’t needed. Respectfully, to me, it demonstrates exactly why careful zoning oversight is necessary.”

The select board took no action on the issue, as jurisdiction now lies with the zoning board.

“We had letters from people that lived out there that don’t want the Trustees anymore, and then there’s the people that support the trustees,” said Art Smadbeck, the select board chair, at the onset of the meeting.

“We have a lot of people that support the Trustees, so I’m going to let you guys talk about it because actually the select people have no decision in it.”