DISTRICT OF CRITICAL PLANNING CONCERN (DCPC)

A District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) is a special area on Martha's Vineyard. It is an area that is important to more than one town on the Island or to the Island as a whole. Because of the importance of these areas, they require special regulations to guide the type and manner of development that may occur.

Development in many of the most significant and beloved parts of the Vineyard has been strictly controlled as a result of the creation of DCPCs. When the Commission was new, a large number of nominations were made for DCPCs. From thoughtful consideration of those initial requests, the early Commissioners crafted the three Island-wide DCPCs that still form the framework of the Commission's DCPC protection. The Coastal District, Island Roads District and Special Places District protect the Island's most sensitive areas from inappropriate development. The Designated DCPCs include the original three Island-wide Districts; Districts protecting various ponds, harbors and other special areas; and a District protecting the entire Town of Aquinnah.

There are eight types of District:

• Drinking Water Resource District
• Fishing Resource District
• Farming Resource District
• Wildlife, Natural, Scientific or Ecological Resource District
• Cultural or Historic Resource District
• Economic or Development Resource District
• Major Public Investment District
• Hazardous District

This section of the website outlines the basic steps of designating a DCPC.

• The DCPC Designation Process—Step By Step—This section outlines the steps that are followed in creating a DCPC.

• DCPC Qualifications—This section defines the types of areas that can be nominated and designated and outlines the criteria that the Commission uses to determine whether a district qualifies as a DCPC.

• DCPC Moratorium Exemptions—This section describes the moratorium that goes into effect as part of the DCPC designation process and how exemptions may be granted from the moratorium.

The following documents are involved in the DCPC designation process.

• DCPC Nomination Form (DCPCDistrictNomination 219K) —This form must be submitted by the officials or petitioners nominating a DCPC.
• DCPC Guidance (DCPCGuidance 106K) —This provides information about how a District is nominated and designated.
• DCPC Exemption Form (DCPCExemptRequest 76K) —This form must be submitted by anyone requesting an exemption from a DCPC moratorium.
• DCPC EXemption Guidance (DCPCExemptGuidance 101K) —This provides information about the moratorium and how exemptions may be granted.
• Chapter 831 of the Acts of 1977 as ammended (Chapter831 213K) —This is the MVC's enabling legislation. Sections 3 and sections 7-11 sets forth how districts are to be nominated and designated, and it establishes procedures to be followed in the process.
• DCPC Criteria (DCPCCriteria 97K) —The criteria for DCPCs are based very closely upon the criteria as stated in Chapter 831(the Act), and have been in use nearly as long in the history of the Commission. They were adopted in 1975.
• DCPC FLOW CHART (DCPCFlowChart 72K) —The flow chart is a handy visual display of the steps involved in nomination and designation of a DCPC, with time references.

Note: If there is any discrepancy between this website and the official documents of the Martha's Vineyard Commission such as Chapter 831or the Critical Planning District Qualifications, the latter take precedence over this or any other general guidance.