Once a rare luxury, swimming pools on Martha’s Vineyard have burgeoned in popularity, driven in part by demand from the summer rental market for more amenities.
Once a rare luxury, swimming pools on Martha’s Vineyard have burgeoned in popularity, driven in part by demand from the summer rental market for more amenities.
Over the past two decades, more than 750 pool permits were awarded in Edgartown and Chilmark alone. Historical data from other Island towns is incomplete, but suggests a more modest uptick in pool construction.
In Edgartown, the rate of pool building hit a high of 75 in 2021. In 2022, there were 46 pool permits awarded, still a nearly eightfold increase from 2001, when just six pools were approved.
Putting a pool on a rental property is seen as a wise investment, realtors said.
Putting a pool on a rental property is seen as a wise investment, realtors said.
Eleven pool permits were approved in Chilmark last year, down from its height of 24 in 2021. In 2001, just three pools were approved in Chilmark.
Local officials and activists said they are trying to reckon with this growth, grappling with how to handle an increasingly profitable aspect of the changing face of the Island economy.
“In extreme cases like Edgartown, the reality is that when you put in a pool, the rental cost almost doubles,” said Island realtor Jim Feiner of the impetus behind the trend. “For people who are investors, when you put a pool into a house you can sell it for a lot more money.”
Once considered superfluous on an Island surrounded by ocean and dotted with ponds, private pools have become increasingly desirable for vacationers.
“When I built my first house in ’98, it was considered gauche to have a pool,” said Point B Realty managing director Wendy Harman. “I think that the vacation home has morphed into the new hotel, and people want more hotel-like amenities.”
Historical data on pool permits was not consistently gathered in Tisbury and Oak Bluffs annual reports, but Ms. Harman said she had not seen the same pressure to build pools in those towns.
“I think [Oak Bluffs and Tisbury] are about where Edgartown was 10 years ago,” she said. Since 2018, when pool permits began to be independently listed in Tisbury annual reports, 25 pool permits have been approved, well below the numbers in Edgartown and Chilmark.
West Tisbury has also seen some growth in pool building, with 12 permits recorded in 2021 and 14 in 2022, both record highs. Pool permiting trends have been more variable in West Tisbury, which had its previous peak with 10 permits awarded in 2004; 112 pools permits have been awarded there since 2001.
Historically, Ms. Harmon said, there were never more than three pool contractors on Island. That number has now doubled, joining a half-dozen pool maintenance companies.
For Christian Miller, owner of construction and landscaping company Millers Professionals, getting into the pool business was at first a pragmatic move.
“I couldn’t even get people to return my calls when my customers wanted a pool,” he said, referencing the high demand for pools and low supply of workers. Since he jumped into the pool business in 2019, Mr. Miller estimates his company has built more than 150 pools on-Island, which he largely attributes to a high return on investment.
“Clients put them in and they can pay off the project in a season, maybe two seasons, of renting,” he explained.
Millers’ pools typically cost between $50,000 to $100,000; higher-end projects can start at $300,000.
But for Vineyard Conservation Society director Samantha Look, the proliferation of swimming pools represents a worrying change in Island culture.
“In a strange twist of irony, that natural beauty that attracted many folks here to begin with is often replaced by the development that comes with a real estate transaction,” she said.
At the root of the trend, Ms. Look said, is the increasing profitability of the Island real estate business.
“I think somewhere along the way...Vineyard property ownership became increasingly driven by investment opportunity,” she wrote in a follow-up statement to the Gazette. “If one of the primary motivations is what can be taken away from the land in terms of monetary value, rather than being drawn here out of love for the place in its own right, I fear for the dynamic that sets up and the future it paints.”
In addition to the impact on natural land, Ms. Look raised concerns about the impact on fossil fuels from heating pools, while Mr. Feiner worried that filling pools might have an undue impact on the Island’s aquifer.
But even if there is some appetite to regulate pools, local officials often find themselves running up against statutory limits. Joan Malkin, a member of the Chilmark zoning board of appeals who has long been involved in efforts to update the town’s zoning bylaws on pools, said even efforts to enhance safety regulations were thwarted at the state level.
“There’s nothing we can do. Our hands are tied,” Ms. Malkin said.
Ms. Malkin said she began work on revisions to the pool bylaw back in 2018, with hopes of enhancing required safety precautions. The bylaw was passed at town meeting that year, but was struck down by then-attorney general Maura Healey, citing the fact towns were not allowed to enact regulations superseding the state Board of Building and Regulation Standards.
A revised version of the pool bylaw updates, passed at Chilmark town meeting this year, largely leaned on pool safety restrictions allowable in the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Pool molds await their new homes.
Pool molds await their new homes.
“As a matter of philosophy, I think the majority of board members were not content with what the pool code requires,” Ms. Malkin said.
Still, pool regulations in Chilmark remain among the most stringent. All prospective pool builders require a special permit from the zoning board of appeals, fulfilling a number of safety and screening requirements, and must be town residents for at least two years before building a pool.
Edgartown, in contrast, only requires a zoning board of appeals hearing for pools on nonconforming lots less than 10,000 square feet, while requiring planning board approval for pools in the coastal district. Edgartown zoning board of appeals chair Martin V. (Skip) Tomassian Jr. declined to be interviewed for this article.
The heights of pool building subsided somewhat last year but are still trending upwards.
For Ms. Look, this represents a move towards suburbanization of the Island and is a trend worth fighting.
“As a community, we have to decide, are we concerned or are we fine to let it go in this direction?” she said. “Or do we want to put a stake in the ground and ask things to change?”
Comments
…pretty hard getting to
skip OB…pretty hard getting to parking at the beach when the water’s warm. 4 in our neighborhood of 38; 3 new, 1 rental (not new)
On beach days we rush to make
MarieOn beach days we rush to make lunch and get out by 10:30 so that we can park. And it’s still not easy.
We have owned a home for 30 years and it is very difficult to get to find parking at the beach that is less than 2 miles away. Maybe that’s why pools are going in. Folks need a backup plan.
We don’t have a pool so this summer we may need to leave even earlier. It is worse than commuting.
I never understood why people
Ralph D. EdgI never understood why people would come here from their upscale suburbs and then develop their summer properties into an area that felt like just another upscale suburb. The sense of this special place is being lost among all this.
Ralph, I couldn’t agree more!
Christine SengeRalph, I couldn’t agree more!
I’ve owned a seasonal home here since 1986, & I’ve watched the island morph from a precious Mass hideaway to a glitzy offshoot of the Hamptons. If you want a grandiose resort, stay in the Hamptons or Nantucket.
We have also owned since 1987
Ted Berner 70 Simpsons Lane EdgartownWe have also owned since 1987 and watched this unsustainable and very ugly trend. The new build next to us is 7,500sq ft, built right to the 5' setbacks with a pool shoe horned in somehow. I'm not sure the sea or the beach was ever a thought,.. it's allot worse than you think.
I completely agree, Ralph. I
Carol formerly ChilmarkI completely agree, Ralph. I don't get it.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Susan Bucks County, PAI agree wholeheartedly.
Polls are loaded with
Tom delotto EdgartownPolls are loaded with chlorine - filters must be backwashed weekly or more often when highly used which means each time 50 or more gallons of highly chlorinated water is dumped - into sewers? Septic systems that leach into aquifers ? Or right I to the harbors or ponds ? Anyone think this is a good idea?
It's a downright terrible
Susan Bucks County, PennsylvaniaIt's a downright terrible idea. How do they get permission for this?
I am all for rules and
Jean Morklin ChilmarkI am all for rules and regulations designed to protect the look and feel of the island. I like "big house rules," height rules. setback rules, etc. And of course, stringent pool safety rules. And great that Chilmark requires solar panels to fuel the pools!! But why these people quoted here want to shame those who just want to enjoy their property in a way that is invisible to others really escapes me. It is judgmental to shame those who build pools as not "old school vineyard" and somehow money grubbing. I promise that no one under 60 is making these judgments. Mind your own business, you don't know me.
I’m 33… the prevalence of
Slater MVI’m 33… the prevalence of pools on this island is disgusting.
You are all for rules and
Albert Hess NauYou are all for rules and regulations designed to protect the look and feel of the Island but not your own property?
Well under 60 here, too.
Islander MVWell under 60 here, too. Hardly a good thing, no shame — a reality that is connected to the preponderance of development driven by investors, for one. That is obvious. If you are ok with, as they say, the motivation of profit rather than love for the island, the point is well made. A lot of us see MV as our home and not a paycheck.
40 year old islander here
Amy Edgartown40 year old islander here…judging and shaming I guess. Go to the beach. Go kayaking. Build a sand castle. Let your kids run barefoot in an actual grass yard. These changes aren’t “invisible to others”. It’s changing the fabric of the island. The tear downs and rebuilds are often monstrous boxes with a pool taking up the entire lot. Zero character. Fences all around, blocking neighbors from knowing each other. Neighbors who really knew each other, now that’s “old school vineyard”.
You seem to have missed the
Bagel SibleyYou seem to have missed the parts of the article about rental profit and return on investment, not a gaggle of owners who want to enjoy their pools.
Jean, if you are "all for
Susan Bucks County, PennsylvaniaJean, if you are "all for rules and regulations designed to protect the look and feel of the island" I'm surprised you defend these pools.
And "mind your own business, you don't know me" doesn't sound at all like the spirit of the MV community.
There are names for this.
Thomas S Hodgson West TisburyThere are names for this. Like: Aspenization, Hamptonification, Nantucketification, and getting Californic*ted. Old-style pockets remain, but the invasion of gentrification, suburbanizing, or just plain too much money, has changed this place astonishingly. After most of a lifetime here, the literary character I most identify with is Rip Van Winkle.
Poor Martha.
Slater Still MVPoor Martha.
The construction of these pools requires significant amounts of energy, water, and raw materials, leading to increased carbon emissions and resource depletion. A major factor being the extensive use of concrete, which has significant CO2 and environmental detriments.
Concrete production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions due to the manufacturing process of cement, the key component of concrete. Cement production involves heating limestone and other raw materials to high temperatures, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct, known as process emissions. This accounts for a substantial portion of global CO2 emissions. The energy-intensive nature of cement manufacturing, particularly in the kiln-firing process, further contributes to its environmental impact. The extraction of raw materials like limestone and sand for concrete production can lead to habitat destruction and soil erosion, disrupting ecosystems and affecting biodiversity. Furthermore, the transportation of these materials to construction sites entails additional energy consumption and emissions from vehicles, adding to the carbon footprint of pool construction.
On average, the construction of a traditional in-ground swimming pool can result in CO2 emissions ranging from approximately 8 to 12 metric tons. This estimate includes the emissions associated with concrete production, transportation of materials, excavation, and construction machinery.
The construction phase itself also generates environmental concerns. Excavation for pool foundations can disturb the natural landscape, impacting soil quality, vegetation, and potentially leading to erosion and sediment runoff into nearby water bodies. The use of heavy machinery during construction further contributes to noise pollution and exhaust emissions.
To mitigate the environmental detriments associated with concrete use, various sustainable alternatives can be considered. For instance, using recycled or reclaimed materials in the construction process can help reduce the demand for virgin resources. Exploring pool designs that utilize alternative materials like composite materials, which have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete, can also be beneficial.
Additionally, the continuous operation of pool equipment such as pumps, heaters, and filters consumes substantial energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and further strain on energy resources. The maintenance of pools often involves the use of chemicals, such as chlorine, which can be harmful to aquatic ecosystems if not properly managed.
In areas with an average air and water temperature of around 70°F, and assuming moderate humidity and wind conditions, the evaporation rate for a full-size in-ground pool can range from approximately 17-34 gallons of water per day.
All of this on an island with some of the most beautiful beaches and water around, and a wealthy population that loves to thump their chests about how much they’re donating to “save” the environment.
Thank you, Slater, for this
Barbara Gould Plesser Sengekontacket / OBThank you, Slater, for this authoritative and substantive discussion on the production, use, and environmental impact of concrete, and how the intelligent REUSE of alternative materials, such as degraded artificial plastic turf, could help mitigate these negative consequences. So, in the immortal words of Nikita Khrushchev, “We will BURY you !”, and achieve a CO2 reduction “Twofer”. What’d ya say, Building Code Experts ? Maybe ?
Wow. Thank you Slater for
Christopher Daly AquinnahWow. Thank you Slater for that comprehensive overview. It seems like an insane activity in a place where you can see the ocean!
I love the comments about how
james edgartownI love the comments about how this place isn't like it used to be. Wake up people the only places that are still like they used to be are the places no one wants to be.
I simply could not disagree
Amy EdgartownI simply could not disagree more. Many who have 'discovered' the vineyard within the last 15-20 years or so would often comment on how likable it was for that exact reason, 'like you stepped back in time'.
Well said Slater. Thank you.
Vasha Brunelle Vineyard HavenWell said Slater. Thank you.
Great letter and full of
Ginny Jones wtGreat letter and full of compelling details!
It was ever thus: Says the
Lorraine EdgartownIt was ever thus: Says the newbie, I came here, but you can't. Desirable places around the world are attractive. They are being taken over by the virtue signaling part of the new breed: I will jet in, I will build my pool, but YOU are contributing to the rape of the world's resources. YOU should not do that. We hear it constantly, exhorting, preaching, finger shaking admonitions to not use up resources, everyone quits listening. I have.
Been crowing for years about
Islander MVBeen crowing for years about the over-development. No one in a position of power ever wanted to listen. Continued obeisance to the building and trades industry, the constant refrain of “tourist economy” when few appear unwilling admit many “island” businesses are and have been owned by investors and mainland business owners. The lack of character is being sold out, and frankly, much of it has been already, and some of the people who did the selling out either dithered to stop it, or outright encouraged it in the name of business, business, business. A sad tale and one that is true. One thing we can do is to speed up the protections and housing and things we are able to exercise some and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
So do something. Get
Rational Person Oak BluffsSo do something. Get involved. Propose new zoning requirements for town meeting. Development on the island does not happen in a vacuum. Everything has been regulated by rules determined by islanders, so no one should have any complaints. If so, change things and stop complaining.
The island is gone. I sit
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownThe island is gone. I sit sometimes at Stop and Shop with some old friends and we watch these neurotic young newbies running in the store and running back out,they look like they haven't had a meal in a week,getting in their Range Rovers,flying out of the parking lot,probably late for their shrink or Botox appt. I think it's funny ,but it must be pretty bad if u are one of them. And most of them probably never even use the pools,but they can say they have one,not that anyone cares. This is the Vineyard and it has been like this for 40 years since I came here and it won't ever be ike it used to be
We should zone to make it
Daniel Schlozman ChilmarkWe should zone to make it easier to build multifamily housing and harder to build swimming pools.
There once was a serene,
Elizabeth Slaughter Oak BluffsThere once was a serene, quiet, out of the way, little known vacation spot in New England called Martha's Vineyard ....
The environmental effects of
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenThe environmental effects of private pools pale in comparison to the damage caused by the artificial pools along Mill Brook.
In August, the water flowing out of the solar-heated impoundment created by a failed culvert beneath Old Farm Road will reach 90 degrees damaging the brook’s native ecosystem. The water flowing over the dam on the Land Bank's Priester's Pond preserve has been recorded as high as 86 degrees. The water temperature below the dam that creates Mill Pond has reached 89 degrees.
Warm water temperatures mean death for cold-water species, such as the Island’s native eastern brook trout, which manage to survive lethal spikes in water temperature by seeking out cold pockets.
The dams along Mill Brook are obsolete and harmful. They have no place in our Island environment. Where’s the concern?
At least the private pools have one public benefit — more parking places at the beach.
When the ponds become toxic,
Carol Lukoff WellfleetWhen the ponds become toxic, as it seems they will….I’m thinking about a plunge pool…been swimming in pond scum on the cape forever, but these beautiful ponds are running out of time….so….
Well yes, that's why most of
Carol formerly ChilmarkWell yes, that's why most of our Cape towns (including mine - Yarmouth) voted to install sewers at our town meetings this year. That's why the ponds are turning green.
Many excellent points made
Chris ChappaquiddickMany excellent points made here. The Vineyard is a truly special place for many reasons - of course the natural beauty is very high on that list, but there are many man-made aspects as well (e.g., lack of chain stores). It’s one thing when a place becomes crowded because so many people want to enjoy it for what it is - but it’s quite another thing when a place is transformed to cater to those who simply want to exploit it for profit. As a community we need to be diligent about pushing back on detrimental trends like suburbanization (e.g., pools, giant houses, etc) and unfettered commercial expansion from outside owners. Greed is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Show up at a planning board meeting and let your voice be heard!
I lived on the Vineyard in
Vic NCI lived on the Vineyard in the early 1970’s. Old trucks with starter buttons perfectly fit the road, then. Drafty houses without central heat seemed warmer, then. Investment seemed restrained in order to keep sense of place. I thought it would not change. This was too special to be improved upon. A place to always come back. Innocence preserved for a short while. But that goes away, in time, except for a region of memory that always remains.
Really, the solution is
Emily L. Ferguson Off islandReally, the solution is simple. Adjust the water rates to make pools uneconomical. Require an annual license and set the price at 10% of the valuation increase on the property. Restrict the chemicals for water processing through environmental regulations. No point in trying to get at the pools themselves. Too many extenuating conditons. Regulate through town services and taxes.
How about requiring a 2-part
Harriet WTHow about requiring a 2-part Safety and Vineyard Sociology certification course and 24 hours of community service before permitting any pool? That’ll learn ‘em!
Each to his own, I guess.
David Wilson Oak BluffsEach to his own, I guess. When I was 12, I attended a summer camp where swimming was restricted to a large pool. Didn’t come close to a dip at any beach here on the Vineyard. Same for any pool I’ve been in since.
you are worried about
mike edgartownyou are worried about affordable housing. you had better worry about affordable restaurants. expensive prices, for mediocre food...
there was a time when most
anniethere was a time when most islanders would not even consider putting up or putting in a pool. the thinking was that we are surrounded by ocean! having a pool made no sense. but i am thinking that going to the beach was especially a social thing. you meet up with friends or make new ones. your children find others to play with too, building moats and sand castles, catching "critters" and sharing toys. so now people hold up in their houses, playing video games and occasionly hang out at the pool with cocktails. not saying there's anything wrong with that! just different from what a lot of year round islanders expected. i think the "change" started when the island became overpopulated. like others said, parking is just about impossible to find. i started taking a bus to events like the ag fair, fireworks or walking to events in town. then i just stopped going.
Since nobody has bother to
where else to swim mvySince nobody has bother to allow the army corps of engineers to do beach replenishment (simply putting sand back where it came from= regular maintenance just like dredging) there won't be any place to swim on south beach. its a disgrace that nobody has done anything. when i grew up here the beach was 100+ feet off the dunes, which were 100+feet off atlantic drive, and the bunker was on the sand.
The only environmental
Mark Acker VHThe only environmental significance of a pool is heating it,unless using solar or other clean energy sources. One advantage of a pool is that in case of a fire in your home, or a neighbor's house, it's a free source of water for the fire department. In summary, force clean energy methods of heating pools.Also, I find 4 hours of pump circulation is all that is necessary, not 8 as most people use. Pool water is not dumped as someone said above, it is contained.
Ban leaf blowers and pools
JohannaBan leaf blowers and pools
If I can offer a simple
Mark Cunningham Toms River/Ireland/Heart on The VineryardIf I can offer a simple suggestion - make year round residency and/or an agreement not to rent the property a requirement of pool permits. Now it's not an AirBNB rental feature, it's a feature for families who really want a pool. Everyone else can enjoy the LVB, South Beach, The Great Ponds. Preserve the Vineyard sensibly. If you have to have a pool in your $40,000 a week rental, go to The Hamptons. You're not going to get the Vineyard anyway, so no loss to you or the Vineyard and everyone can be happy.
"Simple" unfortunately is not
Amy Edgartown"Simple" unfortunately is not always such. I believe many islanders would support your idea. However, IF that idea could actually be brought to a vote, sadly I'm not confident that the majority would agree. So many 'local's' and thus voters, now line their pockets with this industry and thus near sighted dollar signs get in the way of far sighted island preservation.
Pool chemicals, or salt water
Marty Milner TALLAHASSEEPool chemicals, or salt water in pools is going directly into the water table or into storm stressed water treatment systems, and then into the water table. Over time each of these single household "improvements" will make a long term, irreversible contribution to the potable water on the island. Incremental amounts actually add up. Saltwater intrusion, mentioned in the Gazette numerous times over the decades is a very slow moving predator. There are consequences to pulling tens of thousands of gallons out of the aquifer, and then adding chemicals of choice, and then returning that water.
If you read articles about it from years ago- the warnings are clear. Everyone is free to behave however they want on their own property, within the law. If it creates a problem for everyone in the future, like climate warming, they can deal with it ONLY when the problem is almost irreversible.
This isn't about "pool envy" or the right to earn money from rentals to get a return on an investment. Its about sustainable drinking water and simple math calculated over time. i.e. What was the purchase trend of high nitrogen fertilizer and the death of shellfish in adjacent lagoons? No one did the math, but the math was available.
Do the math, what is the trend?
Marty.... when you and I
Mark Hyde On the islandMarty.... when you and I shared space on MV in the late 1970's, all the summer people (me included) wanted to be like the islanders. Now the summer people want the islanders to be like them.
I have had the same pool
Mark Acker VHI have had the same pool water for over 20 years......it is not dumped back into the ground, except when you rebuild the pool.
Over-population of this
Doreen Kinsman vineyard haven MAOver-population of this precious little isle, and all the accompanying ills foisted upon us since the idyllic days of the 70's pale in comparison to the single most worrisome consideration....AQUIFER.... we have only ONE so once it has been despoiled as appears inevitable, all human activity will of necessity cease. A grim pessimistic prospect as witness our beloved ponds" current desecration.
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