On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the planning board is holding a hearing to discuss, among other things, a restriction on lot coverage put forth by the Historic District.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the planning board is holding a hearing to discuss, among other things, a restriction on lot coverage put forth by the Historic District. They are proposing no more than 40 per cent coverage of lots in zone R5 by buildings, impermeable surfaces, pools, decks, etc. We have in place now setback requirements that I believe already limits what can be done. To further limit what a property owner can or cannot do on their own land is neither “Historical”, nor fair. Perhaps if only 40 per cent of the lot can be improved, the taxes should be dropped by 60 per cent.
Please let the board know how you feel, one way or the other.
Mark F. Lucier,
Edgartown
Comments
I can't comment on the
Taxavant EdgartownI can't comment on the appropriateness of this proposed restriction but have no problem with historic restrictions that limit overdevelopment as a rule. It protects property values and attracts buyers. As for the taxes, the mechanism is already in place to address your concerns. Additional structures would likely increase assessments and raise taxes, so you are protected in that sense. Over the longer term, if this reduces the market value of property here, that will reduce your assessment as well. Granted it can take a while for sales to show the decline and assessors to pick up on it. And possibly, if the restriction adds value, as they can, you will be paying about a third of a percent a year on that windfall gain in equity. You really can't lose, unless it is a stupid value destroying proposal, in which case at least your taxes will fall as you wished along with your equity.
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