Plans for a large expansion and renovation of the Vineyard Haven Stop & Shop, which have raised concerns about a range of issues from aesthetics to traffic, had a slightly different look when they came before the Martha’s Vineyard Commission again Thursday night.
Discussion continues on a controversial plan to more than double the size of the Vineyard Haven grocery store. Issues involving the municipal parking lot adjacent to the store will be the subject of a public meeting with the Tisbury selectmen on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Tisbury senior center.
Regarding Stop and Shop’s proposal for an expanded supermarket and parking garage on Water street in Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard Commission executive director Mark London has put together a list of 27 questions that Stop and Shop needs to respond to. These questions relate to some very basic issues that surround this project, such as flood plain issues.
At what point in our history must a grocery store become so large? The Tisbury Stop & Shop debate seems to be settling on two positions, one of which I believe is misconstrued and unfortunately working to benefit this misguided plan.
So far, the Stop & Shop expansion project seems to be flying under the radar of many people who would be concerned if they knew exactly what Stop & Shop is planning for the expansion of their Vineyard Haven store.
As I watch the many hearings to discuss how we can make Stop and Shop solve all our traffic problems, I can’t help ask, what is the cause of our traffic in Vineyard Haven and what is the solution? The answer is the Steamship Authority — the elephant in the neighborhood.
