<p>A major expansion of the Stop & Shop Store in Edgartown is closer to reality after a vote by the commission to approve revised architectural plans.</p>
A major expansion of the Stop & Shop Store in Edgartown moved closer to reality Thursday following a vote by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to approve revised architectural plans for the project.
The expansion, which will nearly double the size of the existing 25,000-square-foot Upper Main street store and also reconfigure the parking lot, was approved by the commission last December with a long list of conditions. One was to modify the building design.
Signoffs from the commission are still needed on landscape, lighting and an affordable housing plan for employees, as part of the conditions.
The plan cleared the Edgartown planning board this summer.
In the revised design presented Thursday by Stop & Shop attorney Geoghan Coogan and project architect Tom Scott, the main entrance will be moved to the left side of the building and a covered walkway will be added. The roof, trim and facade of the building will also be changed to create a more traditional appearance.
The Stop & Shop spokesmen agreed to further tweak the building design after commissioners expressed concern about the lack of an overhang and sidewalk along the rear of the building.
“My hope was that the partial roof feature would reach further back so it wouldn’t look like a facade,” said commissioner Fred Hancock.
“Other than cost, is there a reason not to do it?” asked commissioner Douglas Sederholm.
“I have to be honest and say there’s no practical reason why we couldn’t do it,” replied Mr. Scott.
In the end the vote was 15-0 to approve the changes.
“I really appreciate your willingness to come back to us with these plans,” said commissioner Linda Sibley.
The meeting began with a moving tribute for Mark London, the former executive director of the commission who died August 18.
MVC executive director Adam Turner showed a photo slideshow from Mr. London’s 13 years at the helm, and commissioners praised Mr. London’s work and devotion to the Island.
“He was committed to the mission of the commission,” said commissioner Gail Barmakian.
In other business Thursday, the commission approved a plan that will allow the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to convert vacant units at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation into business and physician office space.
The hospital closed Wildflower Court, a 20-bed assisted living unit at Windemere, last year.
The change was under review by the commission as a development of regional impact (DRI), and sparked a wider discussion about changing models for elderly care on the Vineyard.
At the request of Mr. Sederholm, a condition was added that would restrict the space to clinical use.
“If you start reducing clinical use and using it for business, then I have a problem with it,” he said.
“Our core mission is clinical services, not business services,” replied hospital president and chief executive officer Denise Schepici. “We would like to hire up to five physicians. This is what this flexibility allows us to do.”
A public hearing on a plan by Verizon to increase the height of a cell tower in Vineyard Haven tower saw lengthy discussion.
Verizon wants to convert the 77-foot tower off the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road to 130 feet to improve reception for internet service and land line calls.
A hearing for the project opened in September 2017, but was delayed after the commission asked Verizon to supply more information, including call dispatch records.
On Thursday Joe Baker, a Verizon radio technician, reiterated statements made at the first hearing that tall trees around the tower are interfering with the signal. He said he has noticed some loss of signal from the tower in recent years, although Verizon was unable to provide records to support the claim.
“We’re not losing the Island yet, but when you have signal loss in little bits, eventually you’ll have traffic loss, and then network outage,” Mr. Baker said.
“This tower serves 911 calls,” added Mr. Coogan, who was also representing Verizon. “This thing is a necessity, period, end of story. The signal is already being affected and over time it’s going to get worse and worse.
Commissioner Fred Hancock commented on the increased visibility of the tower with the extension and wondered if 53 feet is really needed.
“Obviously the tower should be raised, but . . . 53 feet?” he said.
Abutters Nancy Langman and Charles Noonan expressed concerns about negative effects on health and property values from the tower.
“Trees die and microwave technology changes, but that tower will never go anywhere,” Mr. Noonan said.
Commissioners agreed to plan another site visit; the hearing was continued to Sept. 20.
Comments
Deny the whole S&S plan. They
Bobby B EdgDeny the whole S&S plan. They cant handle what they have now.
So keeping them in an
BillyB OBSo keeping them in an antiquated, small building will help them handle things? Silly logic.
Great News!!!! Lets now get
Don EdgartownGreat News!!!! Lets now get the Stop and Shop in Vineyard Have done.
Given how Tisbury treated S&S
T Bone OBGiven how Tisbury treated S&S last time around it wouldn't surprise me to see S&S close the VH location when the new and improved Edg store opens. Who wants to deal with that town again?
I agree, speaking for the
Bobbi Banks Vineyard HavenI agree, speaking for the Elderly, the present store is user unfriendly!
I’m pleased that this plan
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownI’m pleased that this plan for the S&S is being approved. Part of it comes down to the fact that the existing building is in poor shape overall, over half a century old and with no updates in decades. People against have to ask themselves: do you support just letting it rot and become completely unusable? Because updating it is what happens to all old plants and facilities. It’s good that the MVC has taken such an active, responsible role. Prices at S&S are now climbing up to Cronig’s level prices and so I’m not convinced it will really be a money saver for anyone (S&S if you’re listening please cut it out, we all need to eat) but at least it will hopefully provide that engine of American economic success — competition. Does that competition ever lower prices on MV? Doesn’t seem to do anything but raise them for everyone —one business goes higher than the rest do (watch croissants inch up because of Back Door Donuts now charging a premium)...anyway, I’m glad the MVC is doing due diligence. Thanks.
Oddly(?) Not one word about
Richard Barbieri OBOddly(?) Not one word about traffic. Evidently corporate power speaks as largely on our island as it does in Washington. No one who has to endure the Triangle to Stop & Shop logjam would ever vote for a larger store. The Stop and Shop should be out at the airport — central, no impact on the life of a town. Let’s see what the expansion actually does to the customer base, not only for the sprawling Shark and Stop, but for all the lesser business fish downstream of it.
Very good point Richard! Why
Anne EdgartownVery good point Richard! Why not move it by the airport? It’s funny how commissions get bogged down with smaller, irrelevant issues such as facade appearances and breeze past major issues such as traffic impact. The building looks great and the employees have housing but it took us 3 hours to get through the triangle to buy eggs. Really???
Stop & Shop owns the property
BillyB OBStop & Shop owns the property and building in Edgartown. Why would they ever consider renting land from the Airport Commission? Look at the Airport Mobil gas station debacle of last year as proof the Airport is a terrible business partner.
Stop & Shop at the airport is
Sara Piazza EdgartownStop & Shop at the airport is a bad, bad idea. It will force even the people who are now able to walk to do their grocery shopping into cars, clogging up the roads even worse. Two - it is a pipe dream to think you will solve traffic problems by making the whole island drive to the airport. Seen the intersection of Barnes and West Tisbury Road lately? Tried to drive through West Tisbury on market day lately? Stop the dismantling of our towns and communities. Support local shops.
Build the 50,000 sq ft store
Paulli D EdgartownBuild the 50,000 sq ft store in the airport. How is Main Street going to handle that traffic? This is nuts. A store this size can reduce the cost of goods across the island and be a benefit to the island just not Edgartown.
Awesome...one step closer to
WashAbhorred EdgartownAwesome...one step closer to a nice, clean supermarket in Edgartown.
I think it’s just fine the
EmilyI think it’s just fine the way it is.
Vineyard Haven needs the redo. Get rid of that useless annex and expand the store incorporating that space!
VH leadership played games
BillyB OBVH leadership played games with S&S last year and S&S gave up on dealing with the town. Who can blame them? Expect VH S&S to close when Edgartown is re-opened.
Edited 092918
ECS edgartownEdited 092918
The inability of elected leaders to lead and solve the Stop and Shop [SS] issue on a regional basis which in the long run would improve the quality of life for the entire island, shows just how uncreative and no doubt self-serving town selectmen are. It is a shame, and inexcusable that over the years the ‘leadership’ of at least Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown haven’t been able to come together and step up and work with S&S to bring a comprehensive solution to solve a myriad of problems.
In addition, it is way past time for the MVC to put its foot down on the S&S issues.
The obvious best solution to the Stop and Shop issue is to build a single store, a version more typical of an off-island grocery than the Island’s current pathetic excuses for grocery stores, in the airport park or using State Forest land [in its current state, probably the most useless piece of land in the State of Massachusetts] even if it has to be taken by eminent domain [or whatever the process is the acquire State owned land].
From S&S’s point view this would be vastly more cost effective; from a customers’ point of view with regard to convenience, such a location would be the most convenient to ALL Islanders. In addition, there could greater product selection, perhaps better quality, and perhaps more effort to use local producers. Most importantly this would have substantial positive impact on the traffic problems in Vineyard Haven/SS area and the Edgartown Triangle/SS area and improve the overall character of both areas.
The idea that traffic is only a ‘two-month problem’ is obtuse and typical of the mindset of the Island selectmen. If not a single additional house is built on the Island, the ‘two month problem’ will continue to grow more and more rapidly every year as more and more home owners convert their rentals to retirement homes. Are they oblivious to the baby-boomer demographics?
The first step to accomplishing something like a macro solution to the SS problem is for the community at large and the community ‘leaders’ specifically to get out of their respective comfort zones [join the ‘disrupters’] and realize that the Vineyard will never be again what it was even 20 years ago – if you doubt that take a look at the pathetic scene on Norton Beach/South Beach [under the astute management of the Trustees] with the OTS vehicles parked door to door or the traffic jams at the Farmers Market on Saturdays.
The second step would be to stop saying it can’t be done! Anything of this nature can be done if the community and community leaders come together and work toward a common purpose with the appropriate regulators and political entities.
Third, with regard to the utility issues at the office part, everything is negotiable and there are utility alternatives starting with less waste to more solar.
Island ‘leaders’ need dig down deep and see if they can’t muster up some degree of creativity and leadership skills to grasp the reality not only of where the Vineyard is but where it is going.
I'm 67 years old and walk to
Edna EdgI'm 67 years old and walk to S&S in Edgartown. Why do you think your solution works for "ALL" islanders? It doesn't. Thank you. As for me, I'm looking forward to the new store. The Market Basket in Bourne is new and modern. I hope the new S&S will be, too.
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