The Islandwide housing bank appears to be headed back to the drawing board after Chilmark voters put the brakes on the plan at their annual town meeting Monday night.
After strong defeats in the three down-Island annual town meetings and a victory in West Tisbury last week, proponents of the controversial housing bank are turning their attention up-Island, where two more town meetings and a vote on the bank’s funding mechanism remain.
Edgartown and Oak Bluffs voters defeated the controversial housing bank question Tuesday night, while in West Tisbury the question won approval. Tisbury voters take up the question tonight.
As voters in four towns prepare to weigh in next week on a wide range of issues at annual town meetings, one issue has dominated Island discourse: the proposal to create a housing bank.
In 2004, recognizing the need for the creation of year-round housing across the Island, the majority of voters in all Island towns voted to petition the state legislature to create an Islandwide housing bank and fund it with a steady, dependable source of new revenue.
Edgartown selectmen reacted sharply after learning that state Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Dylan Fernandes had filed legislation to establish a housing bank three months ago.
Question, concerns and support were all expressed at a housing bank forum held to discuss the details of two warrant articles coming to town meeting floor this season.
Edgartown selectmen sent a letter to state Rep. Dylan Fernandes and Sen. Julian Cyr voicing strong opposition to the establishment of a housing bank using funds from the short-term rental tax.
An ad hoc citizen group has assembled to develop an action plan for the growing housing crisis on the Vineyard. The first step comes at town elections beginning next week, when voters will be asked to weigh in.
