To: Martha's Vineyard Commission, Mark London, Executive Director of the MVC, and Paul Foley, DRI Analyst/Planner at the MVC

Martha's Vineyard Commission: Save the Island from Overdevelopment

Vote NO on DRI 89-M3, Stop & Shop's expansion proposal for its Vineyard Haven store

Why is this important?

The stated mission of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) “is to help carefully manage growth so that the Vineyard's unique environment, character, social fabric and sustainable economy are maintained as development takes place."

Stop & Shop, an internationally-owned corporation, would like to expand its store in Vineyard Haven, the main port of Martha’s Vineyard. The existing store is 9,649 square feet and one story high (14 to 16 feet in height). Stop & Shop wants to build a store which is 48,987 square feet, two stories high (39 feet in height), and has a parking garage.

Because of its size and location, the proposed building is officially regarded as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) and must therefore be approved by the MVC.

Stop & Shop’s proposal qualifies for rejection under the mission statement and enabling legislation of the MVC.

Though in favor of an appropriate renovation of the Stop & Shop store, we the undersigned ask the members of the MVC to adhere to the clear guidelines in their enabling legislation and vote to deny Stop & Shop’s current DRI application, DRI 89-M3, for the following reasons:

1. Inappropriate scale and character. The “big box” store and parking garage that Stop & Shop wishes to build--typical of an off-Island shopping mall in Anywhere, U.S.A.--would dominate visitors’ and Islanders’ first view of Martha's Vineyard from the ferry. Such a building would adversely change the unique historical and visual character of the village of Vineyard Haven.

2. Traffic impacts. All studies agree that traffic would increase by 5 to 15%, further burdening an already highly congested area. The MVC’s traffic consultant has stated that the five roads that meet at the closest intersection, Five Corners, would ALL be at level-of-service F---meaning total failure. Large trailer trucks backing into the trailer bays would disrupt access to Water Street and the ferry via Norton Lane. Serious disruptions to public transportation, both the ferry (SSA) and bus (VTA) operations and schedules, are also predicted.

3. Economic impacts. The proposed superstore would compromise the economic sustainability of locally owned businesses, both during the construction phase and after. Construction would impede normal operations of many businesses Islandwide.

4. Environmental and quality-of-life impacts. There would be major disruptions during construction. Then and after, air quality would be reduced by increased traffic congestion and venting of the parking garage. Water quality would be reduced by runoff from the building’s roof and parking garage. Venting from the parking garage would contribute to noise pollution. Needed areas of open space and greenery would be eliminated. Furthermore, the two-story building would have no setbacks. It would encroach on the municipal parking lot and Cromwell Lane, and cut off sun to Norton Lane and the parking lot.

5. It sets a dangerous precedent. The scale of this building will raise the benchmark for an acceptable scale and style of development in the rest of Vineyard Haven and elsewhere on the Island.