In 1974, Dukes County voters and the Massachusetts General Court made the bold decision to create the Martha's Vineyard Commission and give it special powers to manage Island development. According to the Commission's enabling legislation (Chapter 831 of the Acts of 1977 as amended): Martha's Vineyard possesses unique natural, historical, ecological, scientific, cultural and other values . . . These values are being threatened and may be irreversibly damaged by uncoordinated or inappropriate uses of the land.

The Commission was given two primary responsibilities.

• Planning: Regional land-use planning for all seven towns in Dukes County.
• Regulation: Special roles with respect to development in the six towns on Martha's Vineyard.

Only by working together can we effectively deal with our shared resources and concerns related to water quality, open space, climate change, energy, transportation, the economy, Island character, and the supply of affordable housing - all of which are interconnected and affect the whole Island.

• Background and Mission
• What We Do
• Commissioners
• Committees and Meetings
• MVC Staff
• Regional Partnerships
• Finances and Administration