The Edgartown selectmen are revisiting plans to have a tent in the parking lot off Kelley street for the Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine festival after abutters expressed concerns. In March, the selectmen approved a proposal for the annual festival to move from the Field Club into downtown. But some business owners said they were not notified about the plans, which include tents on Mayhew Lane and closing Kelly street to traffic for three days, from roughly Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20. The festival is sponsored by approximately 40 local businesses, among them the Vineyard Gazette.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” said Michael McCourt, who owns Murdick’s Fudge. “They never approached abutters to the parking lot.”
There is also a problem with planned portable toilets for the event, town administrator Pamela Dolby said, and board of health director Matthew Poole needs firmer plans as to the placement and handling of the portable toilets.
Selectman Arthur Smadbeck said that when he and the other selectmen approved the proposal for the festival, brought by the board of trade, he assumed that all businesses were on board.
“I was assuming, probably wrongly, that this organization was an organization of the businesses downtown,” he said.
The selectman suggested the applicants come to the next meeting after adjusting plans and talking to abutters. The selectmen also approved closing Robert’s Way, the short road that connects Edgartown-West Tisbury Road and Robinson Road, during this summer’s demolition of the old Edgartown school, which will make way for construction of the new library. The road will be closed at least through September.
Peter Wells, owner of the Chappy Ferry, said maintenance and Coast Guard inspection is scheduled for the On Time III, the bigger of the two ferries that run the short route. He proposed pulling the ferry out of the water starting the Tuesday after Labor Day, and said the work would last 10 to 20 days.
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