In an April 10 email to the commission, William Cumming said he is willing to replace the four retail buildings in his application with four two-story apartment buildings holding 36 dwellings.
Developer William Cumming has offered to scrap the retail component of his proposed income-restricted condominium complex, Green Villa, which is under consideration by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
In an April 10 email to the commission, Mr. Cumming said he is willing to replace the four retail buildings in his application with four two-story apartment buildings holding 36 dwellings.
“Residential creates substantially less traffic than what we proposed in terms of the retail,” he told commissioners at a hearing Thursday.
Green Villa, proposed to be built near the ice rink along Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs, is one of the largest residential housing projects to come before the MVC.
Replacing the storefronts with housing would cut 50 per cent of the vehicle traffic from Green Villa, Mr. Cumming said, during the third installment of a public MVC hearing that began in February and will continue in May.
The additional apartments would bring the total number of dwelling units to 136, all of them deed-restricted to year-round occupancy by owners earning from 80 per cent to 150 per cent of the area median income.
In his email, Mr. Cumming said he would offer 20 of the added units to employees of Island schools who earn up to 100 per cent of the median income for this area.
“Based on legal work previously undertaken with the Islandwide school system and IHT [Island Housing Trust], which was presented to DHCD [Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development], we are confident this school preference is a fair housing valid preference proposal,” he wrote.
Nine of the additional units would be available to households earning up to 80 per cent of the area median and seven to buyers earning 150 per cent of the area median.
While easier on traffic, the added apartments would add substantially to the nitrogen-rich wastewater coming from Green Villa, which is located in the already-impaired watershed for Sengekontacket Pond.
Mr. Cumming said that this problem would be solved if the complex connects to the town of Oak Bluffs’ expanded sewer system, but MVC water resource planner Sheri Caseau said it’s not that simple.
“Even on the sewer, they’re still over the water quality policy limit, and there would have to be some mitigation,” Ms. Caseau said.
There’s also the fact that Mr. Cumming and the town are communicating mainly through the legal system: Oak Bluffs has sued the developer in Dukes County Superior Court, and also appealed to the state Housing Appeal Committee over the project.
Town officials say Mr. Cumming is misusing state Chapter 40B, which allows some relief from zoning bylaws when affordable housing is being built.
Commissioner Douglas Sederholm said it was up to Mr. Cumming, and not the MVC, whether or not to switch from retail to residential for the part of the complex facing Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.
“The applicant proposes a project, and we vote yes or no, and we add conditions [for] approval, but you are going to make the decision,” he said, adding that Mr. Cumming also needs to provide more information to the MVC.
“There’s more work to be done, at least on the nitrogen and the traffic and your … possible decision to go with all residential. We certainly aren’t ready to finish this public hearing now,” Mr. Sederholm said, setting May 15 as the next continuation of the Green Villa hearing.
Commissioners also continued a hearing on Millers’ Professionals’ proposed expansion at the airport business park and voted to allow planned renovation work at the Chilmark School to proceed without MVC review.
On April 17, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will continue with its public hearing on another project of Mr. Cumming’s, the proposed Edgartown Gardens condo complex for residents aged 55 and older.
The continued hearing on Katama Meadows, a proposed mixed-income subdivision in Edgartown, also is on the agenda along with the commission’s deliberation and decision on a proposed demolition on Massasoit avenue in Vineyard Haven.
Comments
Yes we need housing, but
RTR KatamaYes we need housing, but these projects have to be thought out way better. My concern is who will be benefiting from these projects, Mr. Cumming or the future residents of these communities.
How about both?
Alan ChilmarkHow about both?
This whole project is a
Jane OBThis whole project is a terrible idea. No good will come from turning the area into a city.
Triple deckers? What is this
Ken Edg.Triple deckers? What is this Boston?
I agree - when I saw the art
Bob Kelly Oak BluffsI agree - when I saw the art work for this with three stories, I cringed. I once lived in a town that had a zoning rule for two story apartments where the outer ring of the complex had to be one story apartments and then behind that sat the two story buildings. It was a much, much more appealing way to have an apartment complex in a suburb of single family houses. Using a layout like this on island would be a much better approach as well.
It’s hard to believe that
Carl vR WTIt’s hard to believe that this is even being considered. Gnarly traffic jams and waste management problems on this fragile island are already at a crisis level. The island is better off rejecting oversized housing plans, that would only make existing infrastructure problems harder to solve. I think most residents would agree it’s time for a “pause”.
Oh my gosh! A businessman
LenkaOh my gosh! A businessman taking on a project at his own financial risk that might possibly benefit not only himself but the community at large! What a shameful idea!
Each one of these commenters is clearly more interested in perpetuating their own fantasy of MV than in putting a roof over the heads of hard working community members who do not need, cannot afford, or prefer not to own the traditional single family home.
Whether this project or another, the Island needs housing for its diverse population.
Give it a rest; stop whining and imposing your precious but impractical stuck-in-the-Island’s storied past concepts on people who are trying to solve the housing problems of the here and now.
No one should be forced to be under housed just because there are folks who don’t think entrepreneurs can make money and do good for the evolving community at the same time.
Or who think their hallowed image of MV is more important than having their fellow Islanders comfortably housed.
It’s interesting. We can’t
True testIt’s interesting. We can’t afford to destroy our economy by any changes to short-term rentals, what we should be proposing as a moratorium on them after 2025 no new ones are allowed that preserves our economy and pauses conversions. At the same time density is a forbidden word. At some point, you’re going to have to build 1000 units.
Island beware....If island
RobbyK Oak BluffsIsland beware....If island leaders continue to build low income housing, they will attract low income renters, not all from the island, those on section 8, housing vouchers and more. They can't say no, and the island's image as a beautiful coastal island full of beautiful beaches, wide open lands, vegetation and wildlife will be a distant memory. Just think of New Bedford, Revere and more. There has to be limits, and if they island leaders don't set them soon, the island as we know it is gone forever.
I’m glad to hear the retail
Christine SengeI’m glad to hear the retail units have been eliminated. We do need more affordable housing on the island to support the people who work here. But this location is a terrible choice. It is already the site of the high school and performing arts center, the YMCA, Vineyard community services, and the ice rink. It will create serious traffic issues for this location and become another triangle in the warmer months.
This is the wrong location,
Tom EdgartownThis is the wrong location, we all know that. Anyone in their right mind would know this. It is the worse traffic intersection on the island. Far worse than 5 corners.
It's going to be water
Bob Kelly Oak BluffsIt's going to be water restrictions that stop growth on the island. This project has 136 units so that's at least 136 bathrooms. Restaurants can't even get a permit for one bathroom.
Build fast Ferries not
James Vineyard HavenBuild fast Ferries not everyone who works here wants to or needs to live here
On going housing issues,
phil regan OBOn going housing issues, without creative solutions, and you have a guy (william Cumming) who grew up on the island (many perceive him as an off-island developer) attempting to help. William, in my conversations with him (and I have known him for almost 50 years) is interested in making a difference, yet there are nothing but hurdles that cost him money, time and frustration. Green Villa (I don't like the name) may not be perfect but an attempt to make it better would be a start. Please don't discourage a guy who is investing so much effort in trying create some degree of sustainability. Keep William involved in the conversation.
Tired of these developers who
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsTired of these developers who come here with big plans without knowing what they should know. Do affordable housing like Scott’s Grove and Kuehns Way. Both respect nature and didn’t decimate the surrounding land.
This sounds like an excellent
Daniel Schlozman ChilmarkThis sounds like an excellent project with a real potential to make a dent in our housing criris. So often, Islanders lament the lack of affordable housing, then find reasons to nitpick at particular projects. Let's build this one!
IMO, this project seems to
Amy EdgartownIMO, this project seems to have great potential - if the access points could be off both the Edg/VH road and County road, even better for potential traffic issues
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