Martha's Vineyard Commission
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The MVC acknowledges that the
land and water addressed by Chapter 831
is the traditional land and water of the
Wampanoag people. With deep respect for
the Wampanoag community, the MVC
strives to nurture the natural environment
that sustains us all.
In the early 1970s, development was exploding on Martha's Vineyard, with dozens of subdivisions and more than 700 new houses each year. The community was concerned that rampant change could destroy the unique environment and character of the Island.
In 1972, Senator Edward Kennedy put forward the Nantucket Sound Islands Trust Bill, which would have turned much of the Vineyard, Nantucket, and Elizabeth Islands into a national land trust, similar to the Cape Cod National Seashore. Most Vineyard residents felt this went too far, while also recognizing a need for stronger local control over development.
In March 1974, the Island voted to endorse an alternative state bill to create the Martha's Vineyard Commission, a unique regional entity with both planning responsibilities and extensive regulatory authority. In July 1974, Governor Francis Sargent signed legislation (Chapter 637) transforming the former Dukes County Planning and Economic Development Commission into the Martha's Vineyard Commission. The MVC held its first meeting on December 5, 1974.
In 1977, Chapter 637 was amended as Chapter 831: An Act Further Regulating the Protection of Land and Waters of the Island of Martha's Vineyard.
Planning
The MVC is one of the state's 14 regional planning agencies, which help their communities plan and implement short- and long-term improvements with respect to housing, transportation, climate change, water resources, and other areas. The MVC’s planning jurisdiction extends to all seven towns in Dukes County, including Gosnold (the Elizabeth Islands).
Regulation
The MVC and the Cape Cod Commission, which was established in 1991, are the only two regional planning agencies in the state that have regulatory powers over Districts of Critical Planning Concern (DCPCs) and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs). The MVC's regulatory authority extends over the lands and waters of Dukes County, with the exception of:
- The Elizabeth Islands (town of Gosnold)
- The Indian Common Lands (the Cranberry Bogs, the Clay Cliffs, and Herring Creek in Aquinnah)
- Lands owned by the Commonwealth or its constituent agencies, boards, departments, commissions, or offices, to the extent they are excluded from the responsibilities, duties, and powers of the towns.
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