Aquinnah DCPC

2006

June 15, 2006

Townwide DCPC in Aquinnah Held Valid by Superior Court

Ian Fein
Aquinnah DCPC
Decoulos-Kitras case

A Middlesex Superior Court judge last week upheld the validity of a unique townwide planning and zoning district in Aquinnah.

The decision, which was entered on Friday by the Hon. Julian T. Houston, found in favor of the town and the Martha's Vineyard Commission against a developer who is seeking to open access to and subdivide parcels of vacant land off Moshup Trail. The developer, James J. Decoulos, has filed more than 10 different legal challenges against the town, a number of which are still ongoing.

2004

August 30, 2004

A Tree Cutting Roils Aquinnah

Julia Wells
Aquinnah DCPC

The Aquinnah planning board will seek criminal charges against two
seasonal residents and a local landscape company who topped a large
swath of trees off Lobsterville Road without permission this summer.

2002

July 15, 2002

Buildout Deadlines: Town of Aquinnah Sets Good Example

MANDY LOCKE
Aquinnah DCPC

At the westernmost tip of the Island just four years ago, the residents of Aquinnah knew the potential for total buildout loomed just ahead in an era of unbridled development.

Over the last decade, the community of 200 year-round residents watched development stretch the seams of the town's 4,056 acres, and they knew that the intensity and nature of new house construction threatened to devastate the rural character of Aquinnah.

2000

July 4, 2000

Court Ruling on Impact Fees Has Import for Island Towns

Julia Wells
Aquinnah DCPC
In a ruling that could carry special importance for the town of Aquinnah — as well as for other Vineyard towns that want to adopt impact fees — the Massachusetts Appeals Court this week struck down a school impact fee in the town of Franklin.
 
The court found that the impact fee, charged to developers, is an improper tax.
 
“This is so totally contrary to tax philosophy as to require it to be stricken down,” declared Mel Greenberg, an associate justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, who wrote the decision.
 
May 26, 2000

Aquinnah Sets Standard for Sound Planning: Voters Adopt New Laws to Control Growth

Julia Wells
Aquinnah DCPC
Martha's Vineyard Commission
Making history and setting a new standard for community planning on the Vineyard, the people of Aquinnah voted this week to adopt a sweeping set of regulations for a townwide district of critical planning concern (DCPC).
 
“We’re leading the way. There has been a lot of talk about doing an Islandwide DCPC, and I hope this is going to be a first step for that,” said James Vercruysse, an Aquinnah resident who is a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
 
May 5, 2000

Land Agency Backs Town Growth Limits

Julia Wells
Aquinnah DCPC
Martha's Vineyard Commission
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has voted to accept without change an innovative set of regulations developed by the people of Aquinnah to protect their town from the effects of runaway growth.
 
“This is about preserving a modesty of scale and a lifestyle,” declared Marcia Cini, member of the commission from Tisbury.
 

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