<p>The Edgartown planning board is set to discuss this week a long-delayed building project at Wave Lengths salon on Upper Main street. On July 29 the town ordered all work stopped on the modular construction project.</p>
The Edgartown planning board is scheduled to discuss this week a long-delayed building project at Wave Lengths salon on Upper Main street.
On July 29 the town ordered all work stopped on the modular construction project at 223 Upper Main street, which began last spring.
At a continued public hearing Tuesday night, the planning board will address whether the applicants have violated conditions of a special permit, and what course of action the town will take.
Planning board has granted four extensions for project since approval in 2011.
Planning board has granted four extensions for project since approval in 2011.
The board issued a special permit for the building in 2011 after a lengthy public hearing and approval process before the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. The mixed-use building replaces a smaller building that once housed the salon; the new building plans to include commercial space on the first floor, as well as office and living space on the upper two floors.
The planning board granted extensions to the special permit four times as applicant Jayne Leaf, owner of Wave Lengths, lined up financing and resolved ownership issues. Planning board minutes show the project has been the subject of 21 separate sessions of a public hearings or extensive deliberation by the board.
Modular construction of the three-story began last spring. At a meeting in June, with the exterior of the building substantially complete, planning board members began to question the applicant about modifications to the original plans, including an increase in overall height, an increase in the size of the dormers, a change in window design, the addition of balconies and landscaping issues.
Board members were concerned that various plans for construction over years of delays were not reviewed by the planning board or the MVC.
At a meeting in July this year planning board member Robert Sparks asked the applicant to move the second and third floor decks to the rear of the building. Phil Miller, representing the applicants, resisted, according to meeting minutes.
Ten days later the town building inspector issued a cease and desist order stopping all exterior and interior construction.
Comments
Im not sure how this ever got
William ExPBA HKIm not sure how this ever got this far along but all involved should look in the mirror and ask how we let this happen in EDG today! Really sad and unsightly :(
This is one of the most
Truthteller caThis is one of the most unsightly hideous buildings I have seen in Edgartown. It looks like something thrown up in the 1950's during the Post W W II building boom. What on earth were people thinking? I was driving down the street one day, which I have done seasonally for almost fifty years, and I was presented with this example of pre-fab horrible architecture. The next worst thing is that hideous white windmill outside of town. Please, we are destroying the village.
I think that "hideous" white
Tisbury ResidentI think that "hideous" white windmill is actually beautiful because it keeps our skies blue and air clean by reducing our carbon footprint.
That hideous white windmill
Mit Gold EdgartownThat hideous white windmill will hopefully help keep Edgartown from total flooding due to global warming!
I'm sure one ugly windmill is
John Aldeborgh Edgartown, MAI'm sure one ugly windmill is going to keep our sky's blue and our climate from causing armageddon. We can use good intensions to justify almost any cause but it doesn't change the fact that the windmill is ugly and we're all suffering that reality. It also presumes that you believe in man made climate change, climate change yes, the climate is always changing and always will, history proves that fact but man made climate change, I don't think so.
I am confused. The planning
Huh EdgartownI am confused. The planning board issued a special permit based on submitted plans. Modifications to those plans require a modification of that permit through the planning board. Meanwhile, violations of that permit are enforced by the zoning enforcement officer which is also the building inspector here. This sounds like the planning board is acting as the enforcement officer (the actual enforcement officer responded to their determination of a violation). This is a slippery slope folks. No doubt the building inspector is underfunded, but he is not their agent. There are good reasons to prohibit these elected officials from acting as judge, jury and executioner. No doubt all are well meaning, but let's keep the politics out of enforcement, even if in this case it hardly matters. The planning board is acting outside their jurisdiction and the zoning enforcement officer needs to do his job independently.
i love the windmill!
liz Bradley edgartowni love the windmill!
What an unfortunate
Sara Piazza EdgartownWhat an unfortunate juxtaposition of horrible architecture with a very badly pruned tree.
Those trees were savagely
EdgartonianThose trees were savagely pruned and are hideous in their current state. Take them down and replant something that will be slow and low growing and out of the power line right of way. What purpose is served by keeping them?
This artical spells out
TJ Hegarty WTThis artical spells out exactly why rents are so high here. Started in 2011. 5 years of work stopped because someone who "Has got there spot on the rock and a trust fund to support it" doesn't like how it look's. WOW. Its ugly now without the shingles. But even uglier are the comments of condemnation. PS. cut the tree down and plant a new one. Or put all the wire's underground like the homeowners did(with there own money) on North Water Street.
Well said TJ
AT Kelly EdgartownWell said TJ
WHat about focusing on the
REAL concerns WTWHat about focusing on the actual integrity of the town?! When I first came N the 70s it was a fabulous and fascinating place with all sorts of curious , artsy, and unique shops and restaurants which have now been largely replaced by expensive touristy stores that one could find off island. WHere has the real.character of this town gone, I ask you?!!!!! Can we stop persecuting Wavelengths as THE problem. ARe they not more weighty concerns?
WHat about focusing on the
REAL concerns WTWHat about focusing on the actual integrity of the town?! When I first came N the 70s it was a fabulous and fascinating place with all sorts of curious , artsy, and unique shops and restaurants which have now been largely replaced by expensive touristy stores that one could find off island. WHere has the real.character of this town gone, I ask you?!!!!! Can we stop persecuting Wavelengths as THE problem. ARe they not more weighty concerns?
Wavelengths is the problem
Bob EdgartownWavelengths is the problem that is why the are being singled out. They designed the awful building and then changed it with out telling anyone. They tried the old ask for forgiveness instead of asking for permission. Please send a message here and tell the people that does not work anymore and make them fix their mess. The cost is not our problem it is theirs.
Driving past this monstrosity
BFDriving past this monstrosity each day causes me great sadness and angst.
How did this hideous project ever make it off of the drawing board?!
We need more advanced planning in our town and far less reactionary planning!!
How sad that this building
Susan EdgartownHow sad that this building ever got past the Planning Board. It is unsightly and so NOT appropriate or attractive in any way. It's another sad eyesore coming into Edgartown, along with so many properties that are littered with junk, debris, building materials, old cars, etc etc on the Edgartown, Vineyard Haven Road. It's the ENTRANCE to a beautiful town on this island. In other parts of the country, town police, firefighters have clean up days where junk is taken away for free...because it's actually bad for the environment. How great if Edgartown would do that too....and stop passing plans for buildings like the one mentioned.
If the post office apartments
maleeka washington mvIf the post office apartments got past the planning board, then this should come as no surprise.
This structure is an ill
JM 02539This structure is an ill-conceived eyesore in an already-too-congested part of town. How the initial design was approved is a mystery, but the real riddle is how the project has been allowed to proceed despite alterations that have gone unchecked / unapproved. Shame on all involved.....this has become a thorny situation without a clear solution....and the rest of the community must continue to deal with it as is while things are sorted out. Let this serve as Exhibit A in how we must have foresight in the approval of designs and rigor in how we police / monitor compliance with permits, etc.
Eyesores are being permitted
Dee EdgartownEyesores are being permitted in the village all the time. Old buildings replaced by much much larger structures, and pools are being permitted left and right. I hear a pool is planned on the property on Cook street, where there was a historic house. A big shade tree was cut down on the property as well. Why was that allowed?
Folks...the building is
Perspective EdgartownFolks...the building is unsightly yes, did the owners not follow protocol? Probably. But please, get over yourselves...this is not a "tragedy." The only reason most of you are concerned is because you think it will somehow hurt your property values. Only on the Vineyard...
1. Eversource trimmed the
Concerned Edgartownian Edgartown1. Eversource trimmed the tree and they do not need any local approval
2. The plans for the building that you see were NEVER approved either the Planning Board or the Martha's Vineyard Commission.
3. Construction was done without a building permit. (Only the foundation had a permit).
4. The Planning Board is in the process of reviewing plans that reflect what is on site.
5. The building complies with all zoning requirements as set-backs and height. Rulings cannot be made on architecture. If this building were in the Historic District it could have regulated as to design.
Well, I'm not normally a fan
JM 02539Well, I'm not normally a fan of more (versus less) governmental oversight, but the sad reality is that we likely need some incremental protection against bad taste / horrible judgement, both of which are on display to an extreme extent here. This is a shameful structure and the process by which it has gotten to this point is an indictment of those behind it. Hopefully it is a wake-up call so we can prevent it from being repeated.
First of all the tree issue
Kim EdgartownFirst of all the tree issue was not done by owner. Maybe these people should get there facts straight before they comment on what they don't know! The reason the bld looks so big is because it's wrapped in WHITE paper. I know for a fact the planning board gave a list of 13 items they wanted changed and the owner has complied to 11 of them. Shingles would sure make a huge difference! There was a bld permit issued and then taken away because someone on planning board messed up not owner! People should really do there homework before they make such stupid comments
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