Site on the Vineyard Haven waterfront proposed for massive redevelopment.
Ray Ewing

Vineyard Wind Proposes Plan to Redevelop Tisbury Marine Terminal

The MVC is reviewing a large, complicated project to redevelop the Tisbury Marine Terminal into a vessel staging facility for Vineyard Wind.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission opened a public hearing this week on a large, complicated project to redevelop the Tisbury Marine Terminal into a vessel staging facility for Vineyard Wind — with the potential to broadly transform Vineyard Haven’s half-mile stretch of working waterfront.

Under review by the MVC as a development of regional impact (DRI), the proposal looks to repair and alter existing marine infrastructure at R.M. Packer’s wharf to support the development of offshore wind, including the construction of new bulkheads, piers, vessel berthing areas, a public walkway and more than 70,000 square feet of underwater dredging. The area proposed for development is nestled on the harbor in the outer reaches of Beach Road,

Vineyard Wind — an offshore wind development company — has received federal approval to build a 62-turbine, 800-megawatt wind farm about 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.

While construction operations for the wind farm will be mainly staged from New Bedford, Vineyard Wind has long planned to base its maintenance operation on Martha’s Vineyard, proposing about 40 salaried jobs.

The eclectic waterfront property is owned by Vineyard Haven businessman Ralph Packer and currently used as a marine terminal for Packer Marine barging operations. Vineyard Wind will lease the property from Mr. Packer. The southern portion of the property is a small stretch of undeveloped beachfront, home at various points to everything from wooden scow vessels to sea glass and rubble.

According to testimony Thursday and the application submitted to the commission, Vineyard Wind is also in discussion to purchase part of the former Hinckley’s lumberyard property at 61 Beach Road to house its operations and maintenance building, as well as units for workforce housing.

“We do have an option to purchase a portion of the property at 61 Beach Road. We’re in the early stages of putting the conceptual design together for that,” said Vineyard Wind technical development manager Jack Arruda at the hearing. “We look forward to providing you with a DRI specific to that property . . . hopefully by the end of the year.”

The lumberyard was demolished in 2018 after falling on hard times, and the property was purchased by a group of Island developers. But proposed projects for the site have stalled, partly due to wastewater limitations because the town sewer plant is at capacity, and engineering challenges at the site, which sits at sea level.

The Vineyard Wind marine terminal project includes two main parts: the northern portion of the property would remain home to Mr. Packer’s barging operation, with improvements planned, while the southern portion would be broadly redeveloped to accommodate a staging area to service the offshore wind farm.

The development would add three new vessel berths, designed to service a 1,600-megawatt wind operation, a nearly 40,000 square foot pile-supported pier with a 283-foot bulkhead stretching into the Vineyard Haven harbor, a 186-foot steel landside bulkhead, and a public lookout platform east of the pier deck, with a boardwalk along Beach Road.

Significant dredging would be necessary to complete the marine portion of the project, and the development will need a hefty slate of federal and state environmental approvals, including review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The project also comes as the state Department of Transportation has begun work on its Beach Road improvment project. Project applicants said Thursday they were in close communication with MassDOT and had reviewed the latest iteration of their plans for the road.

Vineyard Wind was represented at the hearing by Richard Andre, executive director of Vineyard Power, the Island-based energy cooperative that has partnered with Vineyard Wind, as well as Carlos Peña, a staffer with project contractor Foth Engineering.

The hearing was continued to Sept. 23, when public testimony is expected to begin.

“It’s a complicated proposal, with a lot of moving parts,” public hearing chairman Doug Sederholm said.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/28/2021 - 08:41

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here we go again mvy

I'd expect a requirement for a performance bond, in the event this wind project fails, so we are not left with an unfinished eyesore.

robert skydell Granada, Nicaragua

Don´t concern yourself on that score. Projects like this come with a performance bond to cover dismantling. Standard in the industry.

Anna VH

Rest easy. I had the same question and I’ve spoken to local reps and there will be funding and a plan for decommissioning. It’s part of the approval.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/28/2021 - 19:02

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Angry Boater VH

Your article forgot to mention the fact that this project is across the street from the proposed new MV Shipyard Marina facing the lagoon side of Beach Rd. This will be the new busiest part of town if both projects come to fruition.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/28/2021 - 21:31

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Christine VH

Is this the same Packer family that said a sidewalk expansion would have detrimental effects on their business? Please don’t.

Mike Somewhere

There's no money in sidewalks, The pay will be very good for the Packers if this goes through. Typical Vineyard - No good If I cant make a buck.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/30/2021 - 04:27

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Eric VH

Very exciting although I am rapidly approaching retirement I am heartened that new good paying career jobs will be made available to islanders who need a good paying long term job to afford to stay and raise a family on or beautiful island. A large part of the charm for me living and working on island is the work connection to the ocean still found here. The history of the Massachusetts,The Massachusetts Bay Colony, more formally The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay, founded 1629. Back then during the start we lived at the end of a tenuous supply route from the ports of London, Chester, Bristol, Yarmouth, Southampton and many more storied English ports. And how our colony "made it" was our connection to the sea and our ancestors ability to work towards the future while enduring many hardships with the faith that through shear hard work and determination of themselves their families and their communities that a reward of grace would be theirs and their brethren. And how we all have reaped from their efforts and been bleased with the ability to make a good and rewarding life here on the rock. I vote yes on the continuing efforts to have our harbor front be a place of marine commerce which may benefit a new generation of islanders to make their livings and lifes here on this blessed island we call home.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/30/2021 - 06:03

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W Blair

I find it funny that when the shipyard tried to expand people lost their minds. Now everyone is behind Vineyard Haven being a working harbor. An island family Business trying to expand vs an oil company trying to take advantage of offshore wind money.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/31/2021 - 07:35

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Lee OB

This sounds awesome. Ask people who want a year-round job. A part of the island economy that doesn't rely on tourism that can create community stability. Right whales are "any-reason-to-protect-one's-personal-viewshed; of course there's a way to protect right whales and build windfarm (if in fact there's a harm to them).

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/31/2021 - 11:29

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Martha Edgartown

Let's REALLY consider what it means to have Vineyard Haven become the step child of an large energy producer with no ties to the Island.

annie vineyard haven

what Martha said. also, i wonder where in the world do these people live where they are thinking that islanders will be getting jobs from this plan? i would bet the farm that MAYBE one islander (out of 40?) will get a job with this. oh and while we're in dreamland, let's throw in sidewalks, underground sewers, bike paths and widening the road. doesn't hurt to dream, i guess.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/31/2021 - 11:56

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Darren Lobdello Tisbury

Now we get a sidewalk! Let’s set our sites higher and get our new school subsidized. We finally have a project on the Tisbury waterfront that has a marine use. This is our Town”s chance to fortify the harbor against climate change and substantially increase our commercial tax base. I hope this project can break the stalemate between Tisbury government and waterfront property owners that resulted in dilapidated buildings and a private park. Tisbury needs a fresh start!

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