Tensions Between Harbor View Hotel and Neighbors Spill Out at MVC Hearing

Frustrated North Water street residents sounded off on an ongoing expansion plan at the hotel that began two years ago.

Tensions between the Harbor View Hotel and its neighbors spilled out at a hearing at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday, with frustrated North Water street residents decrying a proposed spa expansion — and also sounding off on a pool bar that was built at the hotel two years ago.

Thursday marked the second public hearing on the hotel expansion project, which is under review by the commission.

The plan to renovate parts of the sprawling hotel’s main building and cottages at Starbuck’s Neck includes a-4,000-square foot spa for hotel guests and the public.

Neighbors and others pressed the commission to not only reject the spa but to retroactively review the hotel pool bar, which was recently expanded and has been a sore spot with the neighborhood.

Abutter Lynn Allegaert called construction of the pool bar an “outrageous deception” that was done outside the normal parameters of regulatory review. She also voiced opposition to the spa.

“I would simply like to ask how something so transformative to our quiet residential neighborhood — an outdoor bar restaurant nightclub — could not have been brought before the MVC,” Ms Allegaert said. “I would add that I am also opposed to the spa.”

The bar is the subject of ongoing litigation between the town zoning board of appeals, the hotel and a group of neighbors, many of whom spoke on Thursday night.

Abutters Geoff Caraboolad, Rich Zannino and Joseph Smith added to the furor with varying degrees of exasperation, suggesting that the neighborhood’s issues mostly stemmed from the pool bar, creating distrust between the hotel and the community and representing needless commercial development in the neighborhood.

“In three short years, the Harbor View is mutating into a boisterous, full-blown destination party resort, and it shows no signs of stopping,” Mr. Zannino said, adding that the spa would add to traffic problems and noise at the hotel. “Undo what damage you can, including revisiting the existence and operation of the noncompliant new pool bar complex, and stopping them from building this disruptive, public day spa.”

Public hearing chairman Doug Sederholm reminded members of the public that the pool bar is not under review.

“The pool bar . . . was not referred to us,” Mr. Sederholm said. “So what we can do about it at this point is very much unknown.”

But commissioner Linda Sibley said it is within the purview of the commission to ask staff to examine whether applicants are in compliance with prior decisions. By that definition, she believed the commission could re-examine the pool bar issue.

“If they haven’t gotten permission to do that, at some point from us, we can take action to stop them,” Ms. Sibley said.

Mr. Sederholm and commission chairman Joan Malkin said the commission had been looking at the issue with attorneys.

“We are exploring it. We have discussed it with counsel,” Mr. Sederholm said.

“We will get back to the commission when we conclude that review,” Ms. Malkin added.

On a busy night with a full agenda, the hearing was continued to a yet-to-be-determined later date.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 07:37

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Bw Edgartown

> the spa would add to traffic problems and noise at the hotel<

Really? Let’s be reasonable.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 08:31

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Jim Edgartown

I can’t imagine anyone not wanting the harbor view to have an expansion. We need the harbor view to be successful. The Abutters don’t want an abandoned hotel next door do they?
We need the harbor view

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 10:36

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Bob Edgartown

The neighbors of the hotel as well as the neighbors of the Hob Knob have a right to be upset as both are in residential zones. Both business should be allowed to continue and prosper but not expand every few years. The business when purchased knew the homes were there and same for the neighbors, all the neighbors want is to keep things the same as when they bought and the same for the business should be true. Stop this madness of anything a business wants it should get

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 14:46

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Jason Edgartown

The MVC bows to the seasonal wealthy owners in Edgartown. Not the blue collar workers trying to make a living in construction or hospitality. The divide between the super rich and the rest of us has never been greater on this island.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 16:23

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Preston Thayer Edgartown

This isn't an "expansion" as the spa would be in the Bradley cottage that's been on the Harbor View campus over 100 years. The "pool bar" gazebo was just moved to the other side of the pool. Families have been celebrating weddings under tents on the back lawn of Edgartown's Grand Hotel for generations.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 16:39

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Bryan Nelson West Tisbury and Sudbury MA

The Harborview has been an island resort for many years (since 1891).
They should be allowed to conduct business as a resort and offer services that people would expect while visiting a resort. If you bought your property in close proximity to the resort prior to 1891, you may have a point. If you bought your property after 1891, you should have thought long and hard about buying next door to a resort.....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/14/2021 - 21:50

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august west edgartown

It’s funny; I live in the neighborhood and I’ve never seen more than two or three cars near the hotel at a time. Hardly a traffic problem at all. In well over a decade.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/16/2021 - 08:00

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Bw Edgartown

MVC - we need to allow the hotel to have a spa and be competitive with like properties in their market category. A successful hotel supports the economy in
Edgartown and MV. Harborview neighbors are vocal, influential and privileged. Should their unquestionable influence dictate the islands commerce?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/16/2021 - 08:38

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George Gamble Oak Bluffs

I started my MV life working at the HV in 1972 and worked there for the next four summers. My last two summers I helped to open the pool bar and was the bartender . The HV is a invaluable asset to the island and the ever important tourism business. The neighbors need to realize that they bought near a resort and stop the complaining.

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