West Tisbury selectmen last Wednesday tackled a light agenda in just over one hour. The evening included a request by town resident Henry Geller, a member of the West Tisbury affordable housing committee, to selectmen to consider using a piece of town-owned land at the corner of Upper Lambert’s Cove Road and State Road for affordable or senior housing.
The three-acre property was formerly identified as a possible site for a new police station or firehouse. “It sounds like everything it has been reserved for has been done,” Mr. Geller said. “So the question is, is it reasonable for the affordable housing committee to think about that piece of land?”
Mr. Geller, who was speaking on behalf of the committee, said the parcel is in a prime location for senior housing because it is close to a bus stop, bank and ATM, Cronig’s supermarket, Conroy pharmacy and doctor’s office. He acknowledged the project would not start anytime soon, as the committee would need money and planning time, but he said the committee could begin preliminary work.
Selectman Jeffrey “Skipper” Manter interjected to mention this property was sold to the town for $75,000. “The intent at the time was for the fire station. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to explore,” he said.
“The land is very accessible and my personal opinion is that it could be a wonderful spot for senior living,” Mr. Geller said.
“You’re right,” said selectman Richard Knabel, “the things that it was talked about for have already been done.”
Mr. Knabel pointed out that when the time comes, voters at town meeting would need to designate that the property be used for affordable housing.
They agreed that the April town meeting would be too soon. “I don’t think we could get our act together,” Mr. Geller said.
“You don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself,” said Chairman Cynthia Mitchell.
Ms. Mitchell recalled that when the property was considered for the new fire station, there was strong public sentiment against having a municipal building placed on it. “It was the feeling of a number of people in town that it would be a creep of a sort, extending the business district into an area that has traditionally been residential,” she said.
Ms. Mitchell said she raised the property’s background only in terms of scaling the project and cautioned Mr. Geller that if this voter sentiment still prevailed, that he would not want to plan anything too large and that it must fit into the environment.
Mr. Geller agreed, adding that the project could not be too big anyway because there were only three acres. He envisions a maximum of 12 bedrooms, for maybe 10 seniors and two caregivers. “Is there such a thing as affordable senior housing?” he asked. “I don’t know.”
Mr. Knabel explained that if a federal agency provides funding that there will be restrictions. Mr. Manter also advised Mr. Geller to reach out to abutters as soon as possible. “I’ll try and poke around for money and ideas,” Mr. Geller said.
“I like the idea of senior housing,” Mr. Knabel said.
Selectmen flare up over solar panels
In other business, a lengthy discussion on cemetery regulations, which was not finalized, occupied much of the meeting. There was an extended conversation about how to define a family. “We’ll come back to this,” Ms. Mitchell said.
Mr. Manter also raised the topic of the solar canopy planned for Up-Island Cronig’s market and wondered if it was too late to intervene.
Cronig’s Market owner Steve Bernier plans to install an array of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that will include roof panels and vehicle canopies at his State Road West Tisbury property, which includes Up-Island Cronig’s and a nearby retail building that houses the West Tisbury Post Office.
The canopy-style solar panels will be similar in appearance to three sets of canopy-style solar panels installed in 2012 at Mr. Bernier’s Vineyard Haven market.
“The aesthetics are jarring,” Mr. Knabel said.
The West Tisbury zoning board of appeals approved an application for the installation of the panels on January 7. The new project required zoning board approval because it exceeds the maximum allowable size for a ground-mounted solar array without a variance — 1,500 square feet and taller than 12 feet — and because it will not meet the required property-line setback. The planned arrays will be about 17 feet high, and will total 6,000 square feet.
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