MVC Eyes Extension for High School Turf Project

Louisa Hufstader Tuesday, August 8 2023 - 10:05am

A Martha’s Vineyard Commission subcommittee is backing the regional high school’s request for an extension of the MVC’s two-year approval of a track and field overhaul, originally issued in August 2021.

With the two-year window closing, the commission’s Land Use Planning Committee (LUPC) voted Monday to recommend that the full commission extend the approval until 60 days after the end of litigation between the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School committee and the Oak Bluffs planning board over the use of artificial turf for the track infield.

“That would be 60 days after the entry of a final judgment and the expiration of all appeals, or the entry of a stipulation of dismissal,” said LUPC chair Doug Sederholm at an online meeting Monday night.

The vote was 7-0-1, with Aquinnah commissioner Carole Vandal abstaining because she had submitted a public comment on the project before she was elected to the MVC last November.

The full Martha’s Vineyard Commission originally approved the track and field renovations as a development of regional impact (DRI) after a series of contentious hearings and voluminous public comment. The 10-6 vote went into effect August 27, 2021, giving the high school two years from that date to begin work.

But after a lengthy public hearing process that ended in early May, 2022, the Oak Bluffs planning board tied 2-2 on issuing a special permit for the artificial turf infield — an automatic denial.

Later that month, a divided high school committee voted 5-4 to appeal the planning board decision in state Land Court. In February of this year, the school committee voted 5-4 to seek a summary judgment in the case, which would take the place of a trial.

Attorneys for both sides argued their positions July 14 before Land Court judge Kevin Smith, who provided no timeframe for his ruling on the summary judgment request.

In the meantime, no construction work has taken place on the track and field project.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission will take up the Land Use Planning Committee’s recommendation at a public meeting this Thursday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the MVC building in Oak Bluffs.

Comments

I think we need to take a

Michael Edgartown

I think we need to take a break from this…. A cooling off period might help this situation. I think this should go to a vote. Personally I like the idea of artificial turf. Main reason is watering and fertilizing…

Thanks Michael for your

Islander61 OB

Thanks Michael for your support of the turf, you are correct, watering and fertilizing are issues with grass, among others. Although, an island wide vote is an idea, I don't think it is possible. However, I am sure you are aware, at every level where this project has come to a vote, the project has been approved. The towns voted, in one way or another, to provide the funding for the design of the project. The school committee voted for the project, the MVC voted for the project, the Planning Board voted for the project, even the vote that got the Special Permit rejected was a 2-2 vote, not a majority. So, votes have been taken, it is just unfortunate that one person was not able to put their bias aside and that got the project special permit rejected, and that is why we are where we are. I get the feeling that there was some back room dealings that went on that made a special permit required, but that is my opinion.

The fact of the matter is, votes have been taken and they all support the project. In the mean time, the MVC clock is ticking, the we are past the lifespan of the track, and the kids on the island are the ones suffering, therefore, we can't take a break from this. We also have a school project ahead of us and we need to know the results of the Dover Amendment ruling.

That’s unfortunate it’s

Scott OB

That’s unfortunate it’s playing out that way. I think this is what happens in MA when people don’t get their way. My brother lives in a MA town where a husband and wife team crushed the new elementary school vote a couple of years ago and it cost the taxpayers millions. All because of their personal agenda. You are correct, it is the kids that suffer.

Take a break is one of the

George Stein OB

Take a break is one of the better jokes approaching a six years of litigation saga

I agree. Let's just

Jimmy Edgartown

I agree. Let's just acknowledge our kids will never get a playing field and let both sides enjoy their "victory".

Take a break, stop wasting

Albert Gosnold

Take a break, stop wasting tax payer money, the existing fields are plenty good enough for Island Kids.

I retired here 40 years ago

Charlie Callahan So Boston/Edgartown

I retired here 40 years ago and thought I left this kind of circus behind me in so boston. I realized when I moved here that it was no different. A little more civilized, but with the same overinflated egos as here and it has only gotten worse. We had some great athletes there. Some went on to play for the sox,patriots,nat'l soccer teams etc and it was on all dirt fields. Some of them didn't even have grass. These idiots because of their EGOS are punishing the kids and making some lawyers rich

The Martha's Vineyard Commission will consider extending its approvals for the regional high school's new athletic fields.