The Martha's Vineyard Commission backed away Thursday night from a push to redraw the Vineyard Golf Club's Island membership plan.

Commission members dropped the issue of the subjective selection process citing not principles, but politics. Commissioners openly acknowledged that pushing for a lottery system could do more harm than good, threatening an already strained relationship with a town board.

Board of Appeals in Edgartown Turns Down Library Expansion

By IAN FEIN

The Edgartown zoning board of appeals this week denied a special permit for the Edgartown Free Public Library, effectively killing the proposed library expansion project for at least another four years.

Three of the five board members voted in opposition to the project, which would have connected the Carnegie library and recently purchased Captain Warren House by means of a 17,000-square-foot addition.

The Edgartown zoning board of appeals this week gave tentative approval to plans for an upscale members-only recreational facility in Katama called the Field Club - although the board stopped short of putting the plan to a vote.

The Edgartown zoning board of appeals approved a special permit for a new restaurant on South Water street on Wednesday with conditions.

Brothers Patrick and Ted Courtney plan to convert a greenhouse tucked off South Water street into a restaurant. The original plan called for outdoor seating for 40 people and indoor seating for 20, but the seating plan was cut down to 49 yesterday in order to avoid the need for possible review by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. The Courtneys hope to be open by July 1.