Since April, the Historic District Committee (HDC) has considered plans for altering the 1912 Mayhew house at 81 South Water street.
Editors, Vineyard Gazette;
Since April, the Historic District Committee (HDC) has considered plans for altering the 1912 Mayhew house at 81 South Water street that, as first offered, could have removed its famous turret, expanded its size and seen a large pool and massive retaining wall built on the east of the lot. These plans prompted public opposition in comments and one public rally.
The HDC patiently sought changes to the plans, to my eyes, to make the architecture and scale less inconsistent with neighboring properties.
The HDC observed town requirements for open meetings, until the August 3 meeting. On that day, the commissioners departed from process when the applicant’s agent proposed a big change during this final meeting. Two abutters and other taxpayers who expected to speak were not recognized.
Attendees wondered what happened and why we were not allowed to speak. If an applicant can speak, then the public attendees should be able to speak. Last-minute changes to HDC applications have been allowed before — and will happen again unless stopped by adherence to better process.
Process is important to public trust in public boards. Process gives more assurance of fairness that is essential to trust. Failure to provide full process could be grounds for litigation that comes out of town funds, as has happened.
I have shared four process recommendations with the HDC commissioners and the town’s select board to promote robust and continuing participation by the public. The HDC has guidelines and the town has bylaws on proposals to build in town. If someone does not wish to follow the HDC guidelines or the town’s bylaws, they should build outside the Historic District.
Sarah Jane Hughes
Edgartown
Comments
A big thank you to Sarah Jane
Jane Bradbury EdgartownA big thank you to Sarah Jane Hughes for calling attention to the failure of process at the final HDC hearing about 81 S Water St on August 3. The HDC had postponed the previous hearing in order to give the public the full 14 days required to review altered applications that are equivalent to new applications. That delay was in line with the accepted process. Many members of the public did review the changes in the proposal and joined the hearing by Zoom with plans to make comments. As Sarah Jane explains, attendees were then totally surprised to find that the hearing wasn't open to the public and no one was allowed to speak. The listeners were equally surprised that Mr. Ahearn was allowed to suddenly remove the pool and retaining wall and quickly get the house passed. Process is indeed essential, and it wasn't followed in this case. The HDC, which is about to hire a much needed assistant, must review their process and keep to it strictly in the future. Their cooperative, trusting, and sometimes casual, approach has been sadly abused in the past. Adherence to the HDC guidelines and to the accepted process is the only way to maintain public trust in this commission. That said, the volunteers that serve as commissioners on the HDC did achieve much improvement in the proposed development at 81 S Water. It is just a shame they didn't stay the course.
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