A planned Mexican restaurant on Union street in Vineyard Haven took a giant step toward opening this summer when the Tisbury planning board voted 4-1 Wednesday to allow a special permit for the operation.
A proposed zoning amendment to allow affordable housing projects on private roads in Tisbury with a special permit has split the town’s planning board.
Cramped, outdated public buildings, vaguely-worded bylaws and a lack of housing policies are among the obstacles to progress that came up during a virtual presentation to Tisbury’s master plan steering committee.
The complex task of writing a master plan — a comprehensive planning document to guide the town through development, land use and other far-reaching decisions — is under way in Tisbury.
Tisbury officials this week wrestled with whether the town should establish a district of critical planning concern (DCPC) for Vineyard Haven harbor, an area that currently has a detailed zoning plan for the shore but no controls for the water.
At a meeting Tuesday night session with the town planning board, members of the board of selectmen explained their rationale for considering a DCPC -- a Martha’s Vineyard Commission overlay planning district -- as a mechanism for regulating activities on the harbor.
The ongoing affordable housing crisis and long-term town planning were central themes in Tisbury Tuesday night as candidates introduced themselves to voters. The election is April 28. There are contested races for selectman and planning board.
A proposed subdivision on Pine street in Vineyard Haven has raised concerns from abutters and some planning board members about the density of the project. The property at 14 Pine street is well-known in Vineyard Haven as the site of the Luce house; a developer plans to build an eight-lot subdivision behind the home.
Greetings from the Tisbury planning board this year will come in the form of a survey that will be used to gather information for the development of a master plan.
"A well-constructed master plan provides the basis for decision-making regarding the long-term physical development of the town. It usually leads to specific zoning bylaw changes to effect the goals expressed and to set the tone for all land-use decisions. The plan also serves as valuable documentation when seeking grants or other forms of assistance," states the press release issued by the planning board last week.
The parking in Tisbury is terrible, but traffic is worse. The police, fire and emergency services are first rate. The town should invest in lots for affordable housing and could begin by developing the southwest wedge off Holmes Hole Road. And although Tisbury harbor generates needed revenue, it is above all a vital resource that must be kept environmentally healthy.
Vineyard Haven Boch Property Is Centerpiece of Future Plan
By JAMES KINSELLA
Nearly two decades ago, the late Ernest J. Boch Sr. paid $600,000 for what he called "a nice little spot" on Vineyard Haven harbor.
Today, despite the property's current scruffy appearance, members of the Tisbury planning board could not agree more.
Board members recently unveiled a master plan for the waterfront and downtown area that identified the parcel, known as Boch Park, as a crucial element.
