An event planned for an early June weekend at a longstanding commercial venue adjacent to the private Harthaven enclave in Oak Bluffs has sparked tension in the neighborhood for the second year in a row.
The head of the Harthaven Association appeared before the Oak Bluffs selectmen late this week to object to the use of a tent at the Island Inn during a leadership development conference planned for the weekend of June 7-9. The conference is hosted by The Partnership Inc., a career mentoring firm dedicated to professional support in management and at the executive levels for people of color. The Partnership is celebrating its 25th anniversary. American Express chief executive officer Ken Chenault is the keynote speaker at the conference.
Organizers had requested permission to put up a tent at the Island Inn during the weekend. Carol Fulp, President and chief executive officer of The Partnership, attended the selectmen’s meeting Thursday to answer questions.
Ms. Fulp, who has been an Island resident for 14 years, stressed that the event coordinators wanted to be sensitive to the neighboring homeowners.
“We want to make sure that we have an event that is totally respectful of the community,” she said.
Last year, amid strenuous objections from Harthaven residents, selectmen denied a request from the Harlem Fine Arts show to use tents on the property of Hooked restaurant, on the grounds that it was a zoning violation.
The Partnership’s leadership conference would be held at the Island Inn, adjacent to Hooked but on a different property. There was some confusion over why The Partnership’s proposed tent was different.
Board chairman Walter Vail and town administrator Robert Whritenour said town building inspector James Dunn had previously determined that a tent at the Inn, which already hosts conferences, would not be an expansion of a nonconforming use. Mr. Whritenour said the determination was not a final say.
The tent item was on the agenda to offer residents a chance to voice their opinion on the matter, Mr. Vail said. A number of residents, many from neighboring Harthaven, spoke.
“It’s a commercial operation overextending its footprint in a residential location,” Harthaven Community Association president Alfred Woollacutt said.
“They have a meeting room that is capable of holding 200 people, I don’t know why they need a tent,” he also said, citing concerns about traffic overflow in the Island Inn and Hooked parking lot. Between 300 and 400 people are expected to attend the conference, prompting other concerns about traffic increases and noise pollution. Mrs. Fulp said most people attending the conference would arrive via public transit or taxi, and that she did not expect a large influx of private vehicles.
Island Inn proprietor Derek Tipton said that the inn has hosted The Partnership five times in the past, including their 10-year anniversary event, but had not had any tented events in recent history.
Selectman Gail Barmakian said she was concerned about the conference serving beer and wine during meals without a permit. The fee to attend the conference, which includes meals, could be interpreted as charging admissions, which would require a one or two-day liquor license, she said.
“Our problem is not with what’s being put there, but with the fact that it’s outdoors and the fact that you’ve been consistent [before],” Mr. Woollacutt said. “I think if you approve this it’s going to be an awfully slippery slope.”
The board asked Ms. Fulp and her fellow organizers to apply for a one-day liquor license. “Solve one issue,” Mr. Vail said. After that, they said they would revisit the tent question.
Comments
Ms. Fulp, who has been an
TMZ Oak BluffsMs. Fulp, who has been an Island resident for 14 years, stressed that the event coordinators wanted to be sensitive to the neighboring homeowners.
“We want to make sure that we have an event that is totally respectful of the community,” she said.
Well obviously they are not be sensitive to the neighboring homeowners.
And since Obama became President these folks have been pushing the envelope as has Obama especially in OB and in this Gates, Lee neighborhood!
Lets make decisions Selectman instead of revisiting the tent question.
I find this sentence
Erik Albert Oak BluffsI find this sentence offensive. "And since Obama became President these folks have been pushing the envelope as has Obama especially in OB and in this Gates, Lee neighborhood!"
Extremely offensive. &
Joanne Lambert Oak BluffsExtremely offensive. & ignorant.
"These folk"?
HD Russell Oak Bluffs"These folk"?
It's a nice way of saying
Joe EdgartownIt's a nice way of saying "those people".
"Since Obama became President
Steve F. Chilmark"Since Obama became President, THESE FOLKS have been pushing the envelope......"
That is code, and deeply offensive language and is not the rhetoric under which this matter should be discussed and decided.
Funny how zoning on Dukes
Donald Muckerheide Oak BluffsFunny how zoning on Dukes County Ave. and surrounding R-1 property is ignored by town officials but if you put up a tent in a rich neighborhood all hell breaks loose. The arbitrary enforcement of zoning must end. Time for state involvement.
How has President Obama been
Rich Vineyard HavenHow has President Obama been pushing the envelope in Oak Bluffs? Are you delusional?
“I don’t know why they need a
skip finley oak bluffs“I don’t know why they need a tent,” --"THEY?" You mean the people who may want to hear what the Chairman of American Express has to say...? Or did you have a different word in mind. Of course.
Let's call it what it is....
Nathalie Woodruff Oak BluffsLet's call it what it is.....Racism and Elitism.
@TMZ
Chip Coblyn Oak Bluffs@TMZ
Your coded language is of course offensive, and I think you meant it to be. But apparently you at least feel some shame, because you opted to not use your actual name. Now if you could only change your attitude as easily.
Homeowners have the right to
deshandra brown obHomeowners have the right to their 'quiet enjoyment' of their residential property. The buildings and footprint of the existing commercial enterprise would be expected to remain as is unless a careful permitting process is followed, perhaps a DRI? If the event coordinator wants to be 'sensitive to the neighboring homeowners' then the simple way to do so is to keep the event within the confines of the existing buildings on the property. If the facilities are not adquate (has they have been in the past) perhaps its time to find a larger facility to rent, rather than expect the current facility to expand to accomodate your event.
Farm Neck--on the same
Skip Finley Oak bluffsFarm Neck--on the same property, enjoying a similar 99 year lease--has a tent, apparently approved without a DRI. And the reason for the exception is equally simple--and quite apparent
Do tell us what is 'quite
deshandra brown obDo tell us what is 'quite apparent'.
how can a large group of
Edward Panek MVhow can a large group of people, in a large tourist location, MV, in a diverse community,Oak Bluffs, which by the way when such things occur, most certainly help the island economy, how can this possibly be any kind of bother to neighbors for a mere 2 days??? Sounds to me like it will be contained on Island Inn property, well monitored regarding any traffic/parking issues so as not to bother anyone. NIMBY is grossly unfair it sounds like in this case, we don't live in a museum after all, I just cant imagine this being any kind of problem to anyone. where does it end? when nothing is allowed on MV? I hope the selectmen take the high road and just let what sounds to me like a professional event to occur. Have traffic concerns? Hire police detail to monitor traffic.
Quite apparent = Racism
Joe MVQuite apparent = Racism
Oh, for god's sakes - what is
Joanne Lambert Oak BluffsOh, for god's sakes - what is wrong with YOU PEOPLE?? Why wouldn't we want to host a great event like this in JUNE, when businesses have just opened and the season is still slow? It is ridiculous, not to mention pompous, for summer residents to complain about a little inconvenience (and c'mon, this is little!) over an early June weekend, which will benefit the island in many ways. So, you have to look at a tent for a couple of days? Really? If you live here year-round, when June comes you have to look at traffic everywhere/end of parking spots/lines everywhere/ - so what? It's the nature of a place like this. Suck it up and stop complaining. You're making fools of yourselves.
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