Commission to Hold Public Hearing Tonight

The Martha's Vineyard Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 7:15 p.m. to solicit comments from town boards and members of the public on draft revisions to the MVC’s Standards and Criteria for Developments of Regional Impact – commonly referred to as the DRI Checklist.

The DRI Checklist is the list of thresholds that delineate which development applications towns must refer to the MVC for possible DRI review prior to towns approving or denying the applications. The MVC reviews the DRI Checklist every two years.

In 2011, the MVC undertook an in-depth review of the DRI Checklist, to deal with issues that have come up since adoption of the current Checklist, to respond to public suggestions, to increase clarity, and to better align the Checklist with recommendations of the Island Plan by increasing protection of significant resources while easing procedures for development proposals without significant regional impacts.

The process started with a series of public meetings held by the Land Use Planning Committee (LUPC) in 2011 at which town boards and members of the public were invited to propose changes. In 2012, LUPC held a series of meetings to discuss possible changes and has proposed the enclosed draft to the Commission. After the public hearing on the proposed changes, the Commission will make revisions as necessary and adopt the revised Checklist before the end of the year.

A summary of the main changes as well as a full copy of the DRI Checklist with all proposed changes is available on the MVC Website.

Any written comments should be submitted by Friday, November 16, 2012 at 5 p.m.