Martha's Vineyard Commission

The Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) is the regional planning agency for Martha’s Vineyard Island and the Elizabeth Islands (together, comprising the County of Dukes County).

The mission of the MVC is twofold: (1.) To assist our region’s 7 towns (Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, & West Tisbury) with planning expertise; and (2.) Protect and enhance the islands’ environment, economy, character, and social fabric.

COVID-19 Info

COVID-19 Info

During this time, meetings with staff and other committee meetings will be held via Zoom. Review this document for instructions on How to Join a Zoom Meeting.

Please see the MVC's COVID-19 Info Page for latest news and resources to assist residents and businesses.

Follow us on Social Media

M VC's Facebook Page

MVC's YouTube Channel

MVC's Instagram

Recordings of Thursday night MVC Commission Meetings can be found on MVTV. Search their site by entering the meeting date M.D.YY (example 12.1.22)

HEADLINES - What's New

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative Workshop: Zoning with Overlay Districts

Zoning with Overlay Districts Workshop

~~Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.~~

To Be Re-Scheduled - will update once date becomes available

Overlay zoning is a popular and useful tool allowing municipalities to implement land use policies and strategies with greater flexibility than traditional zoning, without the necessity of amending the underlying zoning. Districts of Critical Planning Concern (DCPCs) are a form of overlay district zoning. This course illustrates the various types of overlay districts and explains how they differ from traditional zoning measures and describes the form and contents of an overlay district. Discussion will allow participants to explore the potential pros and cons of overlay vs. traditional zoning.

Presenter: Judi Barrett, Barrett Planning Group. Judi has done a lot of work on the island and understands our unique challenges.

Registration required (select "pay by check"). The MVC is sponsoring attendance for any Dukes County resident.

A confirmation email will contain the zoom information.

Questions? Reach out to Bill Veno, Senior Planner

posted 11/3/2023

New Economic Report for Oak Bluffs

Economic and Municipal Finance Data Report

A new MVC report gathers data from local, state, and federal sources to illustrate economic and municipal finance trends in Oak Bluffs over the last 10 years. The report also includes a current business inventory based on property type and value. Much of the data was gathered as part of an update to the Martha’s Vineyard Statistical Profile, which the MVC expects to release this year. For more info, contact Alex Elvin.

posted 11/3/2023

RFQ to Update Island-wide Housing & Zoning Analysis and Assessment

The MVC is seeking responses to an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to identify a consultant to assist with updating the Island-Wide Housing and Zoning Analysis and Assessment. For full detials p lease see the RFQ. Responses are due by November 13, 2023.

If questions, please contact the MVC's Regional Housing Coordinator, Laura Silber.

Link to Zoning Maps and Overlay Zoning Maps.

posted 8/20/2023

Where Might Flooding Occur?

posted 9/14/23

With hurricane season on everyone's mind, this is a reminder about the Storm Tide Pathways application. Created by the Center for Coastal Studies in 2022 (funded by the MVC), the STP App shows where flooding might occur and how deep based on forecasted tide levels.

App's landing page with links to backgound info.

App's how-to video.

Storm Tide Pathways App.

If you have questions, please reach out to Liz Durkee (climate change) or Chris Seidel (GIS) of the MVC.

Read All About It - in the MVC Quarterly - Sept Issue

Please read the latest edition of the MVC Quarterly. This newsletter has a great summary of all the on-going planning work which the MVC staff are busy plugging away on.

All 7 towns in Dukes County contribute an annual assessment to the MVC and those funds fuel these efforts.

Future MVC Quarterly newsletters will be posted to this page. Please contact Alex Elvin if you'd like to sign-up to receive the Quarterly via email.

posted 9/14/23

New Release -- > Climate Risk Assessment for Martha's Vineyard

The Woodwell Climate Research Center has just released the Climate Risk Assessment for Martha's Vineyard. You can download the full document or view on Woodwell's website.

The Woodwell Climate Research Center conducted a climate risk assessment for Martha’s Vineyard, analyzing the impacts of climate change on physical hazards. As a result of climate change, the probability of the historical 100-year rainfall event, a useful indicator of flood risk, is expected to increase slightly by mid-century and be five times more likely by late-century. The likelihood of extreme drought events will also rise, with an increase of 44% by mid-century and 94% by late-century. Related to drought, more high-danger wildfire days will occur; with an additional eight wildfire danger days per year by mid-century and 17 additional days, a near doubling of the historical level, by late-century. This report underscores the importance of localized and freely available climate risk assessments to support climate-resilient decision-making for communities. The findings are crucial for planning a more resilient future for all residents of Martha’s Vineyard.

Please contact the MVC's Climate Change Coordinator, Liz Durkee or Woodwell scientist Andrew Condia, for more info.

map created by Woodwell Climate Research Center

posted 8/3/2023

Potential Solutions Report Released

The Potential Solutions report for the Up-Island Watershed Management Plan (aka 208 Equivalency Report) has just been released. In collaboration with RJS Development Solutions and Wright-Pierce, the MVC compiled this document to describe "...a variety of technologies and approaches for mitigating impaired waters and habitats" on Martha's Vineyard. Intended for Town board members and residents alike, the advantages and disadvantages of each option are explained.

Please reach out to the MVC's Water Resource Planner, Sheir Caseau, for more info. This project has been funded by MassDEP.

posted 6/30/2023

Photo Credit: Mark Lovewell - The Vineyard Gazette 2014

Carbon Sequestration Study on MV

The Woodwell Climate Research Center is developing an above ground and below ground model of carbon sequestion for Martha's Vineyard. This work is a collaboration with the MVC's Climate Action Task Force and the Sheriff's Meadow Foundation. The above ground model is anticipated to be completed in the Spring of 2023.

Visit the project's website or read the more detailed desctiption to learn more.

Questions? Please contact Ben Robinson (CATF chairperson)

posted 1/4/2023

ArcGIS Online Homepage

As administrator of our regional ArcGIS OnLine cloud space, the MVC has updated the site's homepage. Visitors to the site, including town employees and the general public, should have an easier time finding the interactive maps they are looking for.

Or maybe you'll stumble upon something neat & interesting that you didn't even know you were looking for. Check it out.

Contact the MVC's GIS Coordator, Chris Seidel, if you have questions.

posted 10/14/22

Climate Change

MVC Climate Emergency Resolution

At the MVC Meeting on December 12, 2019, the MVC voted to approve and adopt the MVC Climate Emergency Resolution.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) now available

Martha’s Vineyard Commission has worked with a range of local stakeholders and SWCA consultants to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Dukes County. A CWPP is used to identify and mitigate wildfire hazards to communities. The intention of the Plan is to reduce wildfire risk by reviewing and identifying new priority areas for wildfire protection efforts. The Report has been completed and is now available. This plan assesses risk across Dukes County into four tiers, and include a series of recommendations to dial back our vulnerability. Thank you to all those who were involved in this planning effort.

The survey below is a primary communication tool to gather community input on the Plan and to help inform implementation efforts. Please use the provided survey to leave your comments: https://forms.office.com/r/hbGrtha9PE

For any other questions or concerns, please contact Special Projects Planner, Dan Doyle at [email protected] or 508-338-7316 for more information.

Adaptation Context Booklets

The MVC has developed a series of booklets to help Island towns as they adapt to the impacts of climate change. The booklets contain the latest information and resources for the Island, and were funded in part through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program. Click on the links below to read or download:

Past Events: Climate Action Week May 8 - 14, 2022

Climate Week Events

A full schedule of Climate Week events can be found on the Climate Action Plan website: www.thevineyardway.org

Past Events: Let's Talk About Climate Change and the Local Economy

Let's Talk About Climate Change and the Local Economy

Monday, March 7, 2022, from 4:00 - 5:30 pm

Presentations and Public Input

A panel of local climate planners and businesspeople will discuss climate change impacts to the economy, climate change-related job opportunities, diversifying the economy, and the big picture of economic sustainability. Public discussion to follow.

Speakers:

Liz Durkee, MVC Climate Change Planner - Overview of economic impacts
Christine Flynn, MVC Economic Development Planner - Economic diversity
Holly Bellebuono, Executive Director of ACE MV - Climate-related jobs and job training
Julia Tarka, Chair of Edgartown Board of Trade and local businesswoman - a local business perspective
Erin Perry - Deputy Director of the Cape Cod Commission - Cape Climate Action Plan and economic resilience
Ben Robinson, Chair of MVC Climate Action Task Force, MVC Commissioner, Tisbury Planning Board, architect - a circular economy

Past Events: Climate Change Resilience with Matthijs Bouw

Climate Change Resilience Presentation and Q and A with Matthijs Bouw

Monday, February 7, 2022, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Mr. Bouw is a native of the Netherlands, a low-lying country where coping with water has been ongoing for centuries. He is the founder of One Architecture and Urbanism, and a Professor of Practice with a focus on climate resilience at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also an advisor to the MVC Climate Action Plan team. He will talk about innovative ways to live with more water and how addressing climate change impacts is an opportunity for change for the better, for the Island and the community. Mr. Bouw spoke on the Island in 2019 and was inspiring and insightful.

A recording of the presentation can be found here.

Development Project Review (DRIs)

>>Active DRIs Webpage

DRI Checklist Version 14A - Effective Date: December 1, 2021

The DRI Checklist is a document outlining the standards and criteria specifying the types of development which, because of their magnitude or the magnitude of their effect on the surrounding environment, are likely to present development issues significant to more than one municipality of the island of Martha's Vineyard, and therefore are considered to potentially be Developments of Regional Impact. The Checklist is required to be updated every two years by State mandate.

A summary of the proposed changes can be found here.

After reviewing the recently revised and approved Checklist 14 with our local building inspectors, they recommended that we clarify Section 8.1 regarding the demolition of historic structures. The Demolition Policy has also been revised to reflect these changes.

Along with Section 8.1, Section 3.4e was also revised with the qualifier that the project would need to be connected to municipal sewer.

A public hearing regarding the changes to the DRI Checklist and the Demolition Policy was held on April 8, 2021, and continued to May 13, and May 20. After the changes were adopted by the MVC, the document was sent to the State for approval. The State approved the revised Checklist on November 23, 2021 and the document went into effect on December 1, 2021.

Historic Inventory Dashboard

Historic Inventory Dashboard

To aid in identifying structures that may be more than 100 years old, the MVC has assembled the Historic Inventory Dashboard. You can search for a property and view info for its buildings from the Town Assessing Dept, Mass Historical Commission's MACRIS database, and local historic committee's reconnaissance surveys.

The map includes buildings, parcels, and historic district boundaries.

DRI Energy Policy Update

The MVC Energy Policy Committee has drafted a new Energy Policy for Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs), which will replace the current Energy and Environmental Building Policy from 2008. The new policy aims to 1) reduce or eliminate the consumption of fossil fuels, and the emission of greenhouse gases, associated with DRIs, 2) maximize the energy efficiency of buildings, parking lots, and other structures reviewed as DRIs, and 3) improve energy resilience on the Island. The Committe is in the process of collecting feedback from Town Boards and other stakeholders, and expects to present a final version to the MVC in January. Questions and comments may be sent to Alex Elvin.

Elder Services

Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard (HAMV) 2020 Survey Results Available

Survey Results

Findings

Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard (HAMV) received survey responses from nearly 2,500 respondents comprising the older adult community across the island. The survey was released in 2020 and generated significant interest across all six towns. The project aims in large part to help Island towns and organizations document their annual spending, and to generate wider conversations and planning surrounding the topic of healthy aging. A short summary of results can be found, here. The findings from all 68 questions are available as well. For specific questions, please contact HAMV Executive Director, Cindra Trish: [email protected] or MVC Special Projects Planner, Dan Doyle: [email protected]

Search the Elder-Services Database

Please search the Elder Services Database to find resources.

The MVC, in partnership with Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard, has completed an extensive survey and analysis of the elder-service network on the Island. The project aims in large part to help Island towns and organizations document their annual spending, and to generate wider conversations and planning surrounding the topic of healthy aging.

Economy/Housing

2020 US Census Overview

Historic Population Counts 1930-2020

The MVC is pleased to provide a presentation of the 2020 Census Population and Housing Data. The analysis provides comparisons on population and housing trends at the National and State levels, Massachusetts County to County Data, Cape and Islands Region, Island-wide, and Town by Town Comparisons. The presentation highlights several shifts in population and housing on Martha’s Vineyard. Here is a quick summary of take-aways from the presentation.

Contact Christine Flynn, Economic Development & Affordable Housing Planner for more information.

DRI Housing Policy - Now in Effect

The MVC DRI Affordable Housing Policy Subcommittee spent almost ten months revising and updating the Affordable Housing Policy, which was written in 1998, so that it would better respond to the Island's housing needs and the housing impacts of DRI projects. The updated policy went into effect on July 12, 2019 and can be found under DRI Documents.

Here are some of the major changes:

Title of Policy/Scope of Housing Mitigation: The term "Affordable Housing" targets those with incomes up to 80% AMI (Area Median Income); the Commission's practice, reflecting recent studies, has recognized the need to provide housing for higher levels of income as well. In acknowledgment of this practice, which the Commission continues to believe is appropriate for the Island, the policy title was changed from "Affordable Housing Policy" to simply "Housing Policy," and it expressly covers housing for those with incomes from 81% to 150% AMI (broadly understood as "Community Housing").

DRI Housing Mitigation trigger is no longer tied to the DRI threshold for commercial and residential development projects.

Change of Use: Any DRI mmodification that proposes a change of use, or an increase in intensity of use, is subject to a housing mitigation contribution based on that change.

Mitigation Options: Like the previous policy, DRI applicants can offer either land, housing or monetary mitigation, but the new policy has a stated preference for lots and/or dwelling units instead of monetary mitigation.

Valuation of a lot: The value of a lot in a division or subdivision of land is based on the fair market value of lot post-development.

Quantity of lots/housing to be provided: The ratio of housing contribution to development (1/10) remains the same; however, fractional values are expressly written in the policy.

Family Subdivisons: The policy now expressly states an exemption for family subdivisions unless or until the property is sold out of the family.

Commerical and Mixed-Use Developments: The updated policy establishes a new formula where monetary mitigation is the product of new square footage, multiplied by a base rate of $8.00, and an industry intensity code. There are incentives to provide actual housing units, as opposed to monetary mitgation.

Change of Use: Any DRI modification that proposes a change of use, or an increase in intensity of use, is subject to a housing mitigation contribution based on that change.

Accessibilty and Visitability Standards: The policy requires that dwelling units comply with certain standards to accommodate the needs of aging Island residents.

Information on Short Term Rentals

3 Typologies of Rural Massachusetts Percentage breakdown of seasonal housing occupancy rates

The Martha's Vineyard Commission has been working with the Towns and other agencies to provide information regarding the new Legislation Chapter 337 Short Term Rental Tax. On December 28, 2018, the Legislation was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker. The Legislation subjects short term rental properties to the Room Occupancy Excise, G.L. c. 646 for hotels, motel, and inns. The new law imposes state and local option excises on short term rentals that are rented for more than 14 days in a calendar year, starting July 1, 2019 for which a rental contract was entered into on or after January 1, 2019. All short term rental operators are required to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (MA DOR).

For more information on short term rental requirements and obligations or frequently asked questions, please go to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue webpage.

Of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, there are 175 communities that collect Room Occupancy Taxes. The Room Ocuppancy Tax is spilt in two: State Tax Rate at 5.7 % and Local Option Tax Rate up to 6%. All Local Option Revenues go directly to a Town's General Fund. In 2018, Martha's Vineyard had 1,216 hotel and inn rooms which generated a total of $1,969,004 in revenue (local receipts) for five Island Towns.

For Room Occupancy and Short Term Rental Tax Rates and estimated revenues click here.

Contact Christine Flynn, Economic Development & Affordable Housing Planner for more information.

Past Events: Blue Economy Foundation's Presentation to the MVC

On Thursday, December 19th, Cape Cod's Blue Economy Foundation gave a presentation to the MVC.

For presentation and videos, go to the Cape Cod Blue Economy's website. For additional information, contact Christine Flynn, Economic Development Planner for the MVC.

Past Events: Housing Action Task Force Meeting 5/11/23

Photo: Mark Lovewell, Vineyard Gazette

Join the MVC on Zoom on Thursday May 11, 2023 at 6:30pm and learn about the MVC's Housing Action Task Force. This is an island-wide effort to engage the entire commuinty to work together in pursuit of housing solutions. All are welcome.

This the group's first meeting. Please join us to help set priorities and outline areas of focus for the road before us.

It will take a community-wide conversation to address our housing crisis.

Got Questions? -- Contact the MVC's Island Housing Planner, Laura Silber.

MVC's Housing Website Page

posted 5/10/2023

Maps/Data/Aerial Footage

Mapping Storm Tide Pathways on MV

Storm Tide Parthways (STP) describe spatially how coastal waters can flow inland during a flooding event with storm surge, extreme high tides, and sea level rise.

Through field research & computer modeling conducted by the Center for Coastal Studies and the School for the Environment at UMass Boston, 700 STP locations have been identified across MV. Understanding STPs is a critical regional climate adaptation planning tool.

The 2nd year of this project will focus on integrating these data with a National Weather Service website so the data may be accessible to emergency managers for real-time water level forcasting to aid emergency response planning.

View the preliminary data on this interactive map App. Where will the water go? Check out the map.

Contact Liz Durkee of the MVC for more details. Read the full report.

Real Estate Sales Dashboard

The Dukes County Registry of Deeds has mapped the location of sales since January of 2021. The Martha's Vineyard Commission has made these data accessible via the Sales Data Dashboard. You can decide to see all the data or filter the data by year, month, and/or town. Sale price statistics such as average, median, & total number of sales are provided.

Check it out: Dukes County Sales Data Dashboard

Questions about the data? Contact the Registry.

Questions about the dashboad? Contact the MVC's Cartographer, Chris Seidel.

Historic Inventory Dashboard

Historic Inventory Dashboard

The map includes buildings, parcels, and historic district boundaries.

Online GIS Data Hub

The MVC is pleased to announce our new online GIS Data Hub. This site can be used by anyone and everyone to explore our collection of digital spatial data for Dukes County. Datasets include property boundaries, zoning, watersheds, points of interest, etc. The data can be viewed on a map &/or table and are available for download.

Our Hub will be forever expanding with more data. Be sure to check back to explore more of our interesting data.

This site is made possible by the County-wide GIS software license that most Dukes County towns contribute to as well as the MV Law Enforcement Council and the MVC.

Please contact the MVC's GIS Coordinator, Chris Seidel, if you have any questions.

Traffic/Transportation

Final Unified Planning Work Program FFY 2021

The Unified Planning Work Program was endorsed by the Joint Transportation Committe June 17th, 2020.

For more information, contact Mike Mauro, Transportation Program Manager.

Transportation Improvement Program FY 2021-2025

The Joint Transportation Committee voted to endorse the Transportation Improvement Program for FY 2021-2015 on May 27, 2020.

>>COVID Traffic Comparison December 2019 vs. 2020 Document

COVID Traffic Comparison: Summer 2017 vs. 2020

March, April, May 2020 Traffic

Note: MV construction industry restrictions were in effect all of April and lifted on May 4, 2020.

Permanent traffic counters now online & collecting data

Bell Traffic construction crews, TrafInfo transportation consultant and MVC have completed permanent traffic counter installations at six sites identified by the Joint Transportation Committee. Funding for the project was committed through the Commonwealth’s Transportation Improvement Program. The data will be automatically retrieved and is now available on MassDOT’s public-facing Transportation Data Management System. If questions emerge while assessing the data, please contact MVC’s Dan Doyle at (508) 338-7316.

The chosen sites were voted on by the island’s Joint Transportation Committee and the project is funded with federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funding. Traffic count data will afford insights onto the demands placed on island roadway infrastructure – much of which is designed for far smaller volumes than exist in the summertime peak season.

“We need to do this. We must have increased real time counting capability. We were fortunate the funding opportunity came to obtain detailed traffic information using automated technology. Added to that, we designed a system where island town representatives and the public can download counts directly, for their own analysis,” notes Adam Turner, MVC Executive Director.

The counters have the ability to breakout the traffic counts by speed groups and by the hour. The counters can also group volumes based on four different vehicle length classes allowing for a better understanding of truck traffic patterns. If used strategically, this will help inform Pavement Management Plans and fiscal planning for Town Highway Departments and MassDOT.

In the coming weeks, MVC staff will be analyzing the data and posting user-friendly tables and charts for public review, on its website.

Title VI - 2019 Draft

Title VI Draft - Prepared by Martha's Vineyard Commission Staff for the Joint Transportation Committee

Regional Transportation Plan FFY 2020-2040 Approved on Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) sets the vision for the regional transportation system through a look at the existing inventory and operations, setting goals and strategies, and then working within the estimated funding to establish priorities for the Island transportation system improvements. It looks 20 years ahead and frames long and short-term strategies that will result in the development of an integrated multimodal regional transportation system. By analyzing the existing and future conditions of the region's transportation system, the Plan identifies needs, recommends further study and suggests for possible solutions.

For more information, contact Mike Mauro, Transportation Program Manager.

Water Resources

Ponds of MV and Virtual Pond Tours

Be sure to check out our Ponds of MV website to learn about our water quality sampling program, view data, and link to reports. Then hop onto our Virtual Pond Tours page to view the ponds from the comfort of home.

2020 State-of-the-Pond Reports are being rolled out

Chilmark Pond
Edgartown Great Pond
Farm Pond
James Pond
Katama Bay
Lagoon Pond
Menemsha Pond
Oak Bluffs Harbor
Sengekontacket Pond
Squibnocket Pond
Lake Tashmoo
Tisbury Great Pond

Past Events: Innovative Approaches to Municipal Stormwater

Innovative Approaches to Municipal Stormwater

James Houle, Program Director for the Stormwater Center at the University of New Hampshire, will give an overview of green infrastructure and low impact development strategies relative to climate change impacts.

A recording of the session will be available soon.

Past Events: Wrangling Rainwater on the Homestead

The meeting recording can be found here.