A draft project aimed at opening up more scenic views along Moshup Trail won the backing of the Aquinnah select board at their meeting Tuesday, pending permits.
A draft project aimed at opening up more scenic views along Moshup Trail won the backing of the Aquinnah select board at their meeting Tuesday, pending permits.
The proposal to create seven so-called view channels between Maple Hill Drive and a bend in the road near Towhee Lane was brought to the board by Carlos Montoya and Peter Temple. The view channels would be varied in size, they said.
Mr. Montoya is a native plant landscaper and member of the town land bank advisory board. Mr. Temple is a longtime member of the town planning board.
The salt-blasted Moshup Trail heathlands are considered globally rare, and have been the subject of a decades-long conservation effort that has included the town, the land bank and the Vineyard conservation Society.
Mr. Montoya said no rare plants would be cut. “Anything that is rare, notable, will be saved,” he said. “On the whole, everything else will be cut down to make the view open.”
Both men said previous attempts at a similar project some 15 years ago were halted largely due to issues with maintenance of the view channels.
Mr. Montoya said the new proposal includes some a key differences from past iterations of the idea.
“It’s not fooling around with the followup — the maintenance,” he explained.
He proposed using a large mower to clear the view channels at an initial cost of $17,000, with an additional yearly cost of $2,000 for further clearings. He said mowers could essentially make one pass over the seven channels to maintain them each spring.
“By mowing everything except those items that are rare, you get economy of scale,” Mr. Montoya said.
Mr. Temple said the work could not be covered by grants from resources such as the Community Preservation Act, and costs would likely have to be borne by the town.
“Unlike a lot of other work in town, this is not eligible for CPA funds,” he said.
Select board members Gary Haley and Tom Murphy voted to approve the proposal, with a promise that the town would assist in the permitting process. Board member Juli Vanderhoop was not at the meeting.
In an unrelated Moshup Trail discussion Tuesday, the board heard from a property owner who wants to donate land near the Philbin Beach parking lot, in exchange for parking spaces.
Jessica Roddy, a partial owner of two 80-foot wide parcels extending from Moshup Trail to to the town beach, approached the board to offer the land to the town in exchange for two dedicated parking spaces on the lot.
She said her family bought the land 42 years ago, but the tax burden it brings led them to want to get rid of it.
“So we’ve been trying for 15 years to give you guys this piece of land,” Ms. Roddy said.
But Mr. Murphy said previous attempts to complete the proposed exchange had snagged on legal issues, including an inability by the town to guarantee parking spots.
Ms. Roddy suggested the land could be used to extend the Philbin Beach parking lot, but she conceded that a small, privately-owned sliver between the town property and her parcels posed potential legal obstacles.
The board agreed to consult town counsel on the matter. But after years of attempting to give the land away, Ms. Roddy said she and other owners will soon pursue other means of getting rid of the parcels.
“We would love to make it work, Jessica. We would love to make it work,” Mr. Haley said.
Comments
Mow vision channels? This is
mike SomewhereMow vision channels? This is a barrier beach that has taken a long time to establish itself
Cutting slots in it will encourage erosion of this very fragile a rare habitat. What are the select board thinking. Creating a scenic drive for tourists to ou and ah over is absurd. Thinking this will create more tourist traffic may be true - at a very dear cost potentially.
Is *that* what they mean by a
Kate ElsewhereIs *that* what they mean by a "view channel"? Nice bit of unclear terminology, that! Agree with everything you've written here and would add that it is the corner of the island first hit by almost all major storms! What?!?
Well this doesn’t seem like a
Bri WtWell this doesn’t seem like a very good idea…
The entire time I was reading
Tom Oak BluffsThe entire time I was reading this article, I was shaking my head in disbelief. This violates everything we know about dune ecosystems. Where is a single benefit mentioned for this clear-cutting of straight-line views? A cleared 'view channel' is also a wind tunnel, and exactly what we do not need to preserve Dune systems. Ironically, in the design guidelines for the Moshup Trail DCPC, driveways *must* meander and NOT be straight view channels. Whom does proposal this benefit?
If you want to see the ocean
R.U. Joking Vineyard HavenIf you want to see the ocean-go there.
If you cannot go there, then build an observation platform.
But DO NOT destroy a barrier dune so you can just drive by and get a peak.
Drive from o.b to e.d.g if
matt child of gay headDrive from o.b to e.d.g if you want to see the ocean while your driving!!!!
Wondering if the view
JWC West TisburyWondering if the view channels might provide an enhanced view from either of the properties owned by those who have made or agreed to the proposal? Why would you increase the opportunity for non native species to infiltrate this rare native habitat? Why not spend the effort to rid the rare habitat of non native species? Just thinking!
Fact check, re the proposal
Carlos Montoya aquinnah, maFact check, re the proposal for restoring view channels along Moshup Trail:
-- the clearing work for view channels would ONlY occur in the Town's 20-foot right of way directly off the edge of of the Moshup Trail pavement off Moshup Trail. That's it.
-- There are 7 proposed view channels, with a combined length of 1700 feet, out of Moshup Trail's total length of 3.75 miles.
-- The project will need permits from the Town Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and the the State's NHESP. So all aspects of this proposal will get vigorously vetted.
Happy to hear that folks continue to feel protective about Moshup Trail.
The Island needs an
Johanna H EdgartownThe Island needs an enforceable ordinance around protecting trees and dunes. It feels like the Wild West with all the unfettered, short sighted, self serving, Development taking place.
Fact check, re the proposal
Carlos Montoya aquinnah, maFact check, re the proposal for restoring view channels along Moshup Trail:
-- the clearing work for view channels would ONlY occur in the Town's 20-foot right of way directly off the edge of of the Moshup Trail pavement off Moshup Trail. That's it.
-- There are 7 proposed view channels, with a combined length of 1700 feet, out of Moshup Trail's total length of 3.75 miles.
-- The project will need permits from the Town Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and the the State's NHESP. So all aspects of this proposal will get vigorously vetted.
Happy to hear that folks continue to feel protective about Moshup Trail.
I say one does not need to
Alma Griffith Ivor-Campbell New Brighton MNI say one does not need to have glimpses of the ocean to enjoy a lovely view. What is wrong with viewing these beautiful dunes covered in lovely grasses?
Why can't we just keep it as
Susan Shea EdgartownWhy can't we just keep it as natural as possible! No need to alter the dunes and views to see the water more! Keep the views as is!!
My initial reaction is that
Up Islander AquinnahMy initial reaction is that this seems like a bad idea as the public landscape in Aquinnah continues to get modified by cutting in the last several years. Is this really a good idea ? What are the actual benefits ? Is the idea to provide " views " for people in cars and on bikes to have more glimpses of the ocean. Do residents along Moshup Trail benefit ? It would be helpful if a map of the proposed viewing areas is published.
I agree, I would also like to
AnonymousI agree, I would also like to see a map.
In addition to the obvious
Green Person AquinnahIn addition to the obvious ecological concerns at time of increasing erosion and rising ocean tides is the reality that maintenance will be covered buy the town, meaning another increase in taxes, exacerbated by the loss of tax base revenue reflecting the Kennedy land bank deal. The question is WHY? WHO benefits?
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