A house-size bylaw similar to one adopted in Chilmark eight years ago is in the works for West Tisbury, with a public forum expected early in 2022 and a potential town meeting vote in the spring.
A house-size bylaw similar to one adopted in Chilmark eight years ago is in the works for West Tisbury, with a public forum expected early in 2022 and a potential town meeting vote in the spring.
“It’s been two and a half years in the making,” said West Tisbury planning board member Amy Upton, the board’s liaison to the town subcommittee that is drafting the proposed ordinance, titled Preserve West Tisbury. “The Chilmark bylaw was the beginning of the conversation,” Ms. Upton said. “Our bylaw is different in some ways.”
The main concern for West Tisbury, Ms. Upton and planning board chairman Virginia Jones both told the Gazette in interviews this week, is the essential character of the rural agricultural town at a time of sharply increasing property values and residential construction.
“We’ve just got to get people off this greed binge that they’re on, that everything has got to be bigger and better and more expensive and whatever,” Ms. Jones said.
“We’re trying to make sure the Island, and the town in particular, remains a place where the traditions, the heritage, the history and culture — and everything else that we were handed — remains,” she added.
“It’s almost too late now. We’re just about killing the golden goose. The golden eggs are running out here.”
The proposed West Tisbury language follows Chilmark’s lead in adding extra reviews and requiring special permits for building projects over a certain size, Ms. Upton said, with other considerations as well.
“It’s not just size, it’s size in relation to acreage; it’s scale, proportion and relationship to the existing community [and] responsible and conscientious building practices,” she said of the proposed bylaw, which includes a preamble that lyrically describes the town’s traditional ethos.
“We describe it as our love letter to West Tisbury,” Ms. Upton said.
No single development spurred the planning board’s decision to begin working on the new bylaw, Ms. Jones said.
“There were about 20 of them,” she said. “You can’t pin it on anything in particular.”
But Ms. Upton said additional review under the proposed bylaw might — or might not — have led to British architect Norman Foster modifying his controversial building project on the Tisbury Great Pond.
The 4,300-square-foot guest house under construction by the renowned architect is causing a stir among neighbors.
The building was approved by the planning board three years ago as a three-bedroom single-family home. But the website for the Norman Foster Foundation has touted the building as a retreat center to advance its mission of helping new generations of architects, designers and urbanists.
After hearing a litany of complaints from neighbors last month about the project, the planning board sent a letter to the town building inspector outlining the concerns and asking for feedback.
Ms. Upton said this week there had been no formal reply.
She said the Foster house falls into a gray area.
“We know that we cannot weigh in on design,” she said. “He really didn’t break any rules, he skirted our bylaws and we feel unacknowledged if our perspective is irrelevant.” She continued:
“People who come here with a lot of money and a lot of lawyers and a lot of people who work for them who can go through the bylaws and figure out how to get around their intention and do exactly what they please . . . and that doesn’t feel very good.”
Meanwhile, the widespread consternation over Mr. Foster’s guest house/conference center has sparked new conversations about town character, Ms. Upton said.
“That project has sort of reignited the urgency — I don’t want to be alarmist, but I will say urgency,” she said.
“You can’t legislate neighborliness, but I think that’s what we are hoping to affect.”
Formed by the planning board in 2019, the Preserve West Tisbury committee — currently made up of Ivory Littlefield, Samantha Look, Bruce McNalley, Heikki Soikkeli, Ms. Upton and associate members Whit Griswold and Reid Silva — is continuing to refine the details of the bylaw they hope to bring to town meeting next spring.
“We’re still ironing out our draft,” Ms. Upton said this week. “The next step for us is a public forum . . . after the holidays.”
While Ms. Jones has not been involved in drafting the Preserve West Tisbury bylaw, she said the planning board backs the committee’s work.
“We’re hoping they will come up with something that we can present to the voters and get a vote on it,” she said.
“Ultimately it’s the town that has to concur, and that will be their decision.”
The Preserve West Tisbury committee meets next on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. online. (https://www.westtisbury-ma.gov/preserve-west-tisbury-committee/events/45311)
Comments
Why do these people even come
Rena Vine Oak BluffsWhy do these people even come here? Oh, I forgot...for the same reason I do...it's beautiful and charming. But I wish they found the Hamptons more charming and headed west with their building plans in hand.
Sustainability is not
Mimi Davisson Oak BluffsSustainability is not mentioned in this feature. I hope WT folks will include it in their attempts to codify their building future.
More important than size is
paul adler west tisburyMore important than size is type materials used and amount of energy used to sustain the home. I could build a 8,000 sq ft. home that consumes less energy than a 2,000 sq ft home. Which one is more harmful? If the 8,000 sq ft home uses all natural cedars, and the 2,000 sq ft. home uses all plastic woods like Azek, which one is more harmful? If anything, there should be a point system. Credits for solar, clean energy, and natural woods, insulation ratio, HURD score, etc. Not just size.
While environmental impact is
Rick WT.While environmental impact is a big part of this by-law, limiting house size also helps preserve our community and sense of place by protecting the character of the town (something your 8,000 sq/ft green energy home would erode). Once a lot has a giant home on it, it will never be affordable again, and it will increase the tax burden on its neighbors as well. This hyper gentrification that we see here has a lot of negative impacts beyond the obvious, and very serious, environmental issues.
I don't build large homes,
paul adler west tisburyI don't build large homes, but I do like facts. Your theory on the tax burden is not based on fact, it is just the opposite. A large home is often owned by an off island resident, so they pay a huge tax bill, but don't use our schools or other facilities. Though I have never sponsored large homes, I still maintain size alone is not a correct criteria to judge a home. Energy use and type materials has a far greater environmental impact.
Cedar opposed to Azek? Really
Tim EdgartownCedar opposed to Azek? Really this is a No brainer… Azek!! Save the cedar please and the new cedar is no better than Pine. I have seen the new cedar rot in 4-6 years on island…
Cedar is renewable resource
Mark Acker WTCedar is renewable resource they can be farmed, and then turns into dust. Azak does not disintegrate and will pollute the environment and fill our landfills for the next 200 years.
I find this topic to be a bit
John Aldeborgh KatamaI find this topic to be a bit of a conundrum given I’m a 3rd generation summer resident and now retiree with roots going back to 1939. While I have many fond memories of the past I also appreciate what change has brought to the island. In the days my Grandparents first came to Martha’s Vineyard the Island was a very different place, land was cheap and people struggled just to eek out an existence. So we can rightly say the island has come a long way, or said differently it’s seen dramatic change or evolution. That change or evolution isn’t about to stop, the island is now a darling of the rich and famous, which isn’t likely to change anytime soon. So the notion that ““We’ve just got to get people off this greed binge that they’re on, that everything has got to be bigger and better and more expensive and whatever,” Ms. Jones said” is unrealistic and I fear will have the unintended consequence of further increasing the cost of housing on the island. As a community we need to comprehend that anytime you further regulate, restrict or complicate the building process you drive up building costs and/or real estate prices. The simple fact is that demand for high end real estate out strips supply and once intrenched wealthy home owners will understandably tailor their property to their evolving tastes/needs/budgets; not an unreasonable perspective. Unfortunately for the towns out smarting clever capable wealthy people on a personal mission is going to prove difficult. So let’s not hurt the little guy in the process.
Being from Katama, you must
Jameson Up-islandBeing from Katama, you must have seen first hand how rampant trophy homes have scarred a once pristine landscape. It’s too late for Katama, and much of Edgartown, to preserve its rural character, but West Tisbury has a fighting chance here. Limiting giant houses will not kill off or hamper any jobs, please give architects and tradespeople here more credit than that, they will adapt and flourish whether the house is 3,000 square/ft or 6,000.
Katama and Edgartown are just
Mark EdgartownKatama and Edgartown are just fine, we have one of the lowest property tax rates in the country and competent town administrators.
Yes, of course, lifestyles /
Amy EdgartownYes, of course, lifestyles / real estate will gradually evolve over time. There is also clear, blatant greed when your neighbor, yes yours, receives $55K weekly to rent out their “home”. You say “let’s not hurt the little guy”, however ones definition of the little guy, is quite relative. There-in lies the conundrum.
Since you shared I will to. I’m a 4th generation, year round resident, roots back to 1914. The newer influx of home owners here just do not seem to have the care or respect for what it means to live on an fragile island.
I applaud and echo your
S Scheuer EdgartownI applaud and echo your thoughts!
As a 4th generation islander
just a thought edgAs a 4th generation islander you have benefited financially from the influx of those 'terrible summer people' who cheerfully pay property taxes all year, while not taking advantage of the schools etc. Extravagent wages are earned here by unskilled labor. Multi-generation islanders have become millionaires in businesses selling $30 hamburgers and from selling land to those 'terrible summer people' willing to pay grossly inflated dollars for average homes.(they laughed all the way to the bank when they sold a 1/2 acre in Edgartown for $25,000 that they paid $500 for. And now they think they 'gave it away cheap' when they look in the rear view mirror). If you missed out on the lottery ticket here you have no one to blame but yourself. This county used to be the poorest in the state. Families would struggle as the husband did odd jobs, the wife cleaned houses, and they worked together scalloping (off the books) during the winters while collecting unemployment. Those same 'terrible summer people' are the ones who opened their wallets to build that new hospital and willingly fund the massive number of charitable organizations on this island. Without them an their generosity, this would be like appalachia financially for the locals.
Let’s please not preach to
Mark EdgartownLet’s please not preach to home owners what they can and cant do with their property. If they wish to rent it at market rates so be it…
To: Just a thought - Please
Amy EdgartownTo: Just a thought - Please be assured, I did not miss out on any such lottery ticket. Yes our property value has gone up. All that has done for me it’s increase my taxes. Our home has been lived in full-time, year-round, by my family for 100+ years and I could not be more grateful for that. Yes my family hunted and fished to provide. Yes my grandmother did laundry for “summer people “. I may have poured your drinks and waited on you and I may have cleaned your house. Now I may take care of you, as I am a nurse at that unnecessarily large hospital that you mention. Yes my family also has an Island business, and yes we offer employee housing. Hopefully we are never forced to sell.
I agree with you that the generosity of the wealthy has benefited certain institutions of this island. However with that, comes a certain clientele with high expectations of what they receive in return. And they come with a lot of private property signs. If given the choice, I doubt that islanders would willingly accept all that offered glitter and gold, because this comes at too high of a cost to the simplicity of the island. It’s lost. And it’s priceless.
I'm glad West Tis is doing
Carol formerly ChilmarkI'm glad West Tis is doing this. Otherwise, up Island will soon look like any New Jersey suburb.
What do you mean, I see no
Mark EdgartownWhat do you mean, I see no Tudor style houses.
My primary home is in a NJ
MarieMy primary home is in a NJ suburb. MV Is beautiful but will always be second.
People with outsized
Marty Milner TALLAHASSEEPeople with outsized resources have always been able to get their way. Over the decades millionaires shouldered everyone else to the side. Now billionaires are shouldering the ocean views of millionaires to one side with buildings that pay zero reverence to neighborhoods, neighbors, architectural harmony, the environment, or the very land and aquifers they stand on. Simple, forceful democracy has a history of reversing trends on monstrosity. I've seen the Foster compound this past summer. Could anyone be more out of touch with their community to create such an inappropriate experimental ego design? WHAT exactly does that say about commonality of purpose and belonging within a community. The watershed run off from the sight is visibly causing problems for the surrounding land. The "landscape buffer" looks like this building architect doesn't know any landscape architects, or even just a qualified local natural gardener. Of course, it is legal, but also an eyesore of professional embarrassment; a spasm of wealthy, prelogical ego.
There are many humble dwellings on the Vineyard, that match the domicile to the neighborhood. If this trend continues and is not restricted by the planning board the boundaries of this trend will continue to be tested by small minded wealthy people who do not respect the island environment in its totality, or the opinions of the people who dwell on, or care about, the island. They do not understand consequences, and are more than willing to let their lawyers drain precious resources while they stream ahead with their territorial, tasteless markings.
It might be time to put in a set out standards that apply only to buildings/compounds of a certain square footage that clearly establish the boundaries and impacts on the land and neighborhoods. In the same breathe, homes that are the year round domiciles of Vineyarders should be allowed to add a bedroom and bath with normal setbacks, since affordable housing is a statistical myth. Families grow, people need space to live. Yet these families have no lawyers helping them with rules and consequences.
The issue CLEARLY is the commonality of community purpose; the consequences of not having consequences.
Here here! As a landscaper I
M WtHere here! As a landscaper I’ve seen many seasonal residents with massive houses asking forgiveness not permission (usually the forgiveness involves NYC based lawyers and large donations). It doesn’t matter if it’s the water that’s being protected, an endangered species, or something if historical significance- if someone has enough money the rules don’t apply to them. A hard and fast rule about dwelling sizes is a start.
As a landscaper you're taking
reality check mvyAs a landscaper you're taking their money. People with massive houses can afford your services. Do you think any of the locals would pay you at the same rate?
"Reality Check", doing high
Jim S. WT"Reality Check", doing high end work, for high end wages will still exist even if wealthy homeowners played by the rules, the economic system that benefits workers won't collapse if the wealthy have to adhere to the rules.
@reality check
M Wt@reality check
You are implying seasonal residents would be unwilling to own houses here if they can’t break the rules. I’m not saying they should leave, I’m saying they should be subject to the same rules as everyone else. A 6000 square foot house respecting protected wetlands is still a luxury enough for many.
First of all Ms. Upton the
Roddy Seasonal VisitorFirst of all Ms. Upton the people who would like to build the nicer homes on the island ARE the golden goose, for enhancing your island’s cash flow and property values. And people like you who rail against them are frankly just jealous. Laws and rules are meant to be followed of course, but you’re suggesting that people who may be inclined to actually read their fine print to confirm they are adhering to the “letter” of the laws/rules are somehow cheating or “skirting “ your bylaws, even though you simultaneously acknowledge he broke no rules. Really??
Roddy, you are wildly missing
Mack and the boys West TisburyRoddy, you are wildly missing the point. The golden goose referred to is our way of life, which is measured not by "cash flow and property values" but by the satisfaction found in our community and our natural surroundings. Jealousy does not come into it - I know no one with any sense who pines after a "pool cabana," a "carriage house," or any of the other ridiculous things now required by the 1% who have moved here not because they really value the simple Island way of life, but because it's considered fashionable. Once, the wealthy people who built houses on the island could be trusted to do so within a reasonable footprint, in keeping with the character of their surroundings. Maybe they respected the prevailing aesthetic, or maybe they actually gave a damn what their neighbors thought. That is clearly no longer the case, so we need to refine the laws. Really.
Well Said, Thank you for
Amy Upton West TisburyWell Said, Thank you for Clarifying the Intent of my comments for Sir Roddy.
This is everything you need
Carl Oak BluffsThis is everything you need to know about why the Island is disappearing before our eyes:
"...After hearing a litany of complaints from neighbors last month about the project, the planning board sent a letter to the town building inspector outlining the concerns and asking for feedback.
Ms. Upton said this week there had been no formal reply."
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