Norman Foster Project Meets West Tisbury Laws, Building Inspector Says
British architect Norman Foster’s controversial building project on the Tisbury Great Pond, decried by neighbors as environmentally destructive, is not in violation of West Tisbury zoning bylaws, the town building inspector said.
Knighted British architect Norman Foster’s controversial building project on the Tisbury Great Pond, decried by neighbors as oversized and environmentally destructive, is not in violation of West Tisbury zoning bylaws, the town building inspector said this week.
“I am in receipt of the final as-built documents and the height of the dwelling does not exceed 18 feet from mean natural grade as defined,” building inspector Joe Tierney wrote to the West Tisbury planning board in a letter dated Dec. 29 that he also provided to the Gazette.
“At this time, I am unaware of any current zoning violations at the property,” Mr. Tierney wrote.
The planning board wrote to the building inspector in November requesting more information about the building on Pond View Farm Road.
Neighbors had complained to the town about Mr. Foster’s 4,300-square-foot guest house, which was permitted as a single-family residence three years ago.
The website for the nonprofit Norman Foster Foundation presents the modern, wood-and-steel structure as a retreat for friends and guests of the architect and his wife, who also own nearby Blue Heron Farm.
But an earlier description, since removed from the website, described the Pond View Farm Road house as “a flexible space to accommodate a range of multi-disciplinary activities including think tank sessions, workshops and seminars [and] a residency programme”.
Concerned neighbors complained that the permitted residence was turning into a conference center. Others expressed shock at the scope of landscaping that has taken place on the pondside site.
Sara Doyle of neighboring Pond View Farm told the planning board at a November meeting that grading and planting changes on the Foster property had flooded out two horse paddocks at the equestrian center she manages.
The planning board is close to reviewing a proposed bylaw for residential construction that could require applicants to submit detailed landscaping plans in advance and expect site inspections during construction.
The draft bylaw is set for discussion at the board’s Jan. 10 meeting.
Comments
Well there’s always someone
Jay West tisburyWell there’s always someone to ruin it for the rest of them. Time to put sqft limits on guest houses.
I thought this was on a stand
Bob EdgartownI thought this was on a stand alone property and is ok to have a home on it. Do not be jealous of someone who can afford a second home for his friends. There is a limit to guest house sizes all ready. Nothing is ruined here in fact it is improved.
Not jealousy. Concern. For
Amy EdgartownNot jealousy. Concern. For the fragility of the island. Concern for the lack of foresight in those in elected positions , as they attempt to strike a balance between property owners rights and protection of natural resources. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
There are sq ft limits for
William ExPBA CHILMARKThere are sq ft limits for guest houses on 3-acres, just read the towns' zoning by-laws and why the house is legal per the building inspector as mentioned in this article. The only question under debate, is the house a residential use? Mass Courts have found air bnb/short-term rentals are not a residential use unless a town says so. For the town to ban this use, you would likely need to ban all short-term rentals then you could qualify this as a non-residential use. Good luck on that one! In Styller vs ZBA, the SJC concluded that the ZBA was within its authority to determine the use of a dwelling in a single-family residential district.
A 4300 sq ft guest House!
Gabrielle West TisburyA 4300 sq ft guest House! Time to put in restrictions on size and landscape.
The "guest house" Norman
Laurence Fayetteville/EdgartownThe "guest house" Norman Foster is building is not a part of Blue Heron Farm, it's on a different parcel and the only building on that parcel. It's zoning falls under being a single home on a parcel, not a guest house on the same property as a primary residence.
Foster likely hasn't violated
Nathan Vineyard HavenFoster likely hasn't violated any zoning laws but to come in to an area that really needs protecting and strip away what was once a bio diverse habitat is misguided . It took mother nature thousands of years to perfect areas like this and to have a developer who claims to be eco friendly do what he did is just hypocritical at best .
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