Julia Wells

Celtics Hall of Famer John Havlicek Loved to Fish Vineyard Waters

Friday April 26, 2019

The Boston Celtics Hall of Famer had sponsored a celebrity fishing tournament on the Vineyard for more than 30 years, raising money for the Genesis Fund.

Land Agency Backs Town Growth Limits

Friday May 5, 2000

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.

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

Friday May 26, 2000

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.

Court Ruling on Impact Fees Has Import for Island Towns

Tuesday July 4, 2000

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.

Citing Town as ‘Essence of Island,’ Aquinnah Asks for MVC Protection As Area of Critical Planning Concern

Friday April 23, 1999

Marking an extraordinary moment in the recent swirl of discussion about growth on the Vineyard, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission accepted a request late last night from the tiny town of Aquinnah to nominate the entire town as a district of critical planning concern (DCPC).