An animation released this week by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission shows development over time since 1660. Revised commission calculations predict that the Island won’t reach buildout until the year 2089.
The lack of any substantive local zoning in Tisbury’s commercial district made dealing with a proposal like Stop & Shop’s expansion and remodeling difficult at best for the town.
At high tide on a sunny day in the year 2100, a visit to Five Corners in Vineyard Haven could mean a swim with the fishes. New maps created by the Martha's Vineyard Commission project a changing seascape.
The commission determined that The Island Housing Trust affordable apartment project near the busy Five Corners intersection would not contribute to traffic problems or have other adverse affects on the community.
A plan to convert an old house off Water street in Vineyard Haven into affordable apartments will require review by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission as a development of regional impact. The location near the Five Corners intersection was a primary concern.
In many ways the 10-month review of the grocery chain's expansion plan followed a normal course for a development project in front of the MVC. But emails obtained by the Gazette show the process was unusual in other respects.
Taking up the question for the first time of whether a dispensary requires review as a development of regional impact, Martha’s Vineyard Commission yielded control to the West Tisbury zoning board of appeals on the application by Susan Sanford, owner of Vineyard Complementary Medicine.
Stop & Shop withdrew plans Thursday to expand its Water street store in Vineyard Haven, abruptly ending a 10-month Martha’s Vineyard Commission review of the project that was closely followed and debated.
