Martha’s Vineyard rejects 54-acre housing plan after seven marathon meetings

Martha’s Vineyard has rejected a proposed 54-acre housing project in Edgartown, following seven marathon meetings of its regional planning board. The Katama Meadows plan called for 52 homes across 54 acres, with 26 affordable units for moderate-income residents and municipal workers, and 19 market-rate homes potentially sold for about $5 million each. The developers, Utah-based Richard Matthews and Douglas Anderson, purchased the land for $6.6 million in 2017 but are now left without a developed site.

Commissioners voted 10 to 3, with one abstention, to deny the proposal. The land, which borders Edgartown Great Pond, was deemed detrimental to the environment due to concerns over nitrogen pollution and the loss of woodland carbon sequestration. Local residents, conservationists, and several commissioners opposed the project, citing potential water-quality concerns and the island's need for affordable housing.

Supporters argued that the project would provide much-needed "missing middle" housing for island workers like police officers, teachers, and firefighters, who often earn too much for traditional affordable housing but cannot afford the island's high prices.

The rejection of Katama Meadows highlights the challenge facing coastal communities in balancing housing needs with environmental protection and luxury development. The decision also leaves unresolved the question of how to provide housing for essential workers without exacerbating environmental damage or promoting seasonal luxury ownership. With more than 60% of the island's housing used for less than two months a year, the debate over housing policy on Martha’s Vineyard is likely to persist.