Welcome to the Tisbury Master Plan

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Tisbury Master Plan (Final Report) and Executive Summary

Tisbury 2023 Master Plan Implementation Plan

Updated Goals and Policies for the Tisbury 2023 Master Plan

Key Issues Report

This document identifies a series of key challenges currently facing the Town of Tisbury. These key issues and related opportunities are essential to understanding and framing Tisbury’s first town-wide Master Plan and preparing to develop its vision, goals, and strategies for the next ten to twenty years.  Major deficits, challenges, and opportunities from the Inventory & Assessment report are unpacked in this report.

Inventory and Assessment Report

The Inventory and Assessment of existing conditions in Tisbury were examined in terms of natural resources, land use, open space, housing, traffic and circulation, public facilities and services, economic development, community health, and governance.

Past Event:

Virtual Public Presentation on Tuesday 10/17/2023 @ 5:30pm.

Commercial District Visions presentation for the Waterfront, Downtown, and upper State Road.

To view the Written Vision for the Commercial Districts, click here.

Optional comment form to submit comments on Commercial District Vision Plans.

Past Events:

Public Presentation and Open House on the Implementation Plan component of the townwide Master Plan - September 22-23

Thank you to all who attended these events! Please see the photo gallery above for a few pics from the events.

Master Plan Updates

  • A review of Tisbury’s Commercial Districts Vision Plan Weekend. This weekend focused on crafting a vision for the waterfront, Downtown Vineyard Haven, and the State Road B2 Business District, in words and drawings, as part of the ongoing Tisbury Master Plan project.

  • The second public workshop for the Tisbury Commercial District Visioning process presented design alternatives for the future of the waterfront, downtown, and B2 State Road commercial districts. Plans and diagrams illustrated different possibilities for the physical design of each area. The alternatives explored issues like transportation, land use, housing, economic development, land use, and climate resilience.

    Community members provided input about the alternatives to identify which alternatives the consulting team should refine further for each location. The design ideas presented in this workshop were built off of public input gathered during a series of community workshops held in Tisbury on October 21-22, 2022.

    Presentation recordings are available below.

Commercial District Small Area Plans Disclaimer

Where are we in the process of this project?

The vision alternatives in this presentation explore options for the future of Tisbury’s commercial district. They test what changes are physically possible in the study areas and provide a starting point for a community conversation about what Tisbury’s people want the commercial districts to be like in the future. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback to the Master Plan Steering Committee.

The final vision - still forthcoming - will be based on input from the community and deliberations by the Master Plan Steering Committee, the Planning Board, and other officials. Then the vision will need to be implemented before there are any changes on the ground. Most implementation steps will require more public input and often a vote at Town Meeting.

Why do the drawings show changes on private property?

Changes on both public and private land need to be aligned for the districts to reach their maximum potential. The drawings show changes on both public and private land to test questions like: which public infrastructure improvements are most important for property owners and the town? Which zoning changes would open up the best opportunities for additional development or redevelopment?

If a drawing shows changes on a property, it does not mean that the Town intends to take land or force a property owner to do something. The town’s policy is that it will only consider eminent domain out of “extreme necessity.” Likewise, any time zoning is changed, existing uses and structures are allowed to continue.

Clarification on the Master Plan Commercial Districts Vision Plans

Over the past several months, community members have contributed valuable input to understanding the challenges and possibilities across our town.  As part of the planning process, our hired consultants have proposed several conceptual visions. These are exploratory in nature and intended to begin the conversation about what is physically possible in our three commercial districts. 

We apologize for the message this has sent to some business owners who fear these visions in any way represent a mandate.  They do not.

If there are concepts business owners and community members do NOT like, we encourage them to share their thoughts about what they DO want to see for the future of their property and neighborhood by contacting Master Plan Administrator Dan Doyle at 508-338-7316 or by emailing doyle@mvcommission.org

Community Survey Results

Thank you for participating in the Master Plan Community Survey! Review the aggregate response summary below.

What is a Master Plan?

A Master Plan is a plan for preservation, growth & change adopted by the Planning Board and led by Tisbury. It defines a long-term vision and growth policies to guide the community’s future development, land use, facilities & conservation decisions.

A Master Plan includes an action program to support the community’s vision, values, and future needs. The plan serves as a guidance document for town officials, residents, land owners, developers, environmental organizations, and others when decisions need to be made about development, infrastructure investments, the economy & resource protection.

Joint Steering Committee & Planning Board Meeting
Aug
7

Joint Steering Committee & Planning Board Meeting

Join the Steering Committee for the monthly meeting regarding Master Plan progress and updates, meetings are open to the public and call for comment or questions.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89449991462

Meeting ID: 894 4999 1462

Passcode: 447744

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One tap mobile

+16469313860,,89449991462# US

The agenda and meeting notes are available here.

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Steering Committee Meeting
Jul
11

Steering Committee Meeting

Join the Steering Committee for the monthly meeting regarding Master Plan progress and updates, meetings are open to the public and call for comment or questions.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88311955869

Meeting ID: 883 1195 5869

Passcode: 878439

Dial by your location: +1 312 626 6799 US

The agenda and meeting notes are available here.


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Tisbury Master Plan Commercial District Presentation 2/16
Feb
16

Tisbury Master Plan Commercial District Presentation 2/16

The second public workshop for the Tisbury Commercial District Visioning process will present design alternatives for the future of the waterfront, downtown, and B2 State Road commercial districts. Plans and diagrams will illustrate different possibilities for the physical design of each area. The alternatives will explore issues like: transportation, land use, housing, economic development, and climate resilience.

The meeting will provide ample time for community members to provide input about the alternatives with the goal of identifying which alternatives the consulting team should refine further for each location. The design ideas presented in this workshop will build off of public input gathered during a series of community workshops held in Tisbury on October 21-22, 2022.

Registration for the virtual meeting strongly encouraged but not required

Commercial Districts Presentation  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87439425441

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Tisbury Master Plan Commercial District Presentation 2/13
Feb
13

Tisbury Master Plan Commercial District Presentation 2/13

The second public workshop for the Tisbury Commercial District Visioning process will present design alternatives for the future of the waterfront, downtown, and B2 State Road commercial districts. Plans and diagrams will illustrate different possibilities for the physical design of each area. The alternatives will explore issues like: transportation, land use, housing, economic development, land use, and climate resilience.

The meeting will provide ample time for community members to provide input about the alternatives with the goal of identifying which alternatives the consulting team should refine further for each location. The design ideas presented in this workshop will build off of public input gathered during a series of community workshops held in Tisbury on October 21-22, 2022.

Registration for the virtual meeting is strongly encouraged but not required

Commercial Districts  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87383860454

View Event →
Affordable Housing stakeholder meeting
Dec
8

Affordable Housing stakeholder meeting

Tisbury is in the process of creating a Master Plan, which will include a long-term vision, policy recommendations, and an implementation plan that will guide decision-making over the next 10-15 years.  Public contribution to this planning process is extremely important.

The Master Plan steering committee, appointed by the Planning Board, is holding a series of stakeholder meetings to bring community members together to discuss focused topics included in the Master Plan. We hope you will join us Thursday, December 8th at 3:00 pm on Zoom to discuss affordable housing.

At this meeting, we’d like to hear your thoughts on:

* What’s working well in Tisbury?

* What’s not working, and could be improved?

* What do you think we absolutely need to address in this Master Plan to better address affordable housing in Tisbury?

We hope you can join us on Zoom for this important discussion.

Please RSVP via email to tisburymasterplan@gmail.com by Monday, December 5th.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81038152875

Meeting ID: 810 3815 2875 Passcode: 293846

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Steering Committee
Nov
1

Steering Committee

Join the Steering Committee for the monthly meeting regarding Master Plan progress and updates, meetings are open to the public and call for comment or questions.

View meeting notes here.

View Event →
Commercial Zone Small Area Vision Plan Weekend
Oct
21
to Oct 22

Commercial Zone Small Area Vision Plan Weekend

Tentative Schedule & Agenda

October 21

Site Visits, 1:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Walking tour of commercial districts - downtown & waterfront, 1:30-3:00 pm

*Meet near Post Office on Lagoon Pond Road

Walking/driving tour of B2 district (State Road commercial area), 3:15-4:45

*Meet at Tisbury Park & Ride Lot, High Point Lane

Workshop, Session 1, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Sandwich supper with an introductory presentation

Small group SWOT analysis of three focus areas

Large group presentation

October 22

Workshop, Session 2, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Visioning Sessions

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Special meeting: Developing Tisbury's Economy
Oct
12

Special meeting: Developing Tisbury's Economy

Dear Tisbury business owner or manager,

We hope you will join the four of us and other business and community leaders and residents on Wednesday, October 12th from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Tisbury Senior Center (34 Pine Tree Road, Tisbury) to brainstorm ideas about how to best develop Tisbury’s economy over the next five to ten years, and beyond.

We serve on the Tisbury Master Plan Steering Committee, developing a long-term vision and growth policies that will guide the community’s future development, land use, facilities and conservation decisions. You can read more about the Tisbury Master Plan here: www.tisburymasterplan.com

At our meeting, we’d like to hear your thoughts about economic development in Tisbury, specifically:

* What’s working well?

* What’s not working, and provides barriers to economic development?

* What do you think we absolutely need to address about economic development in the Tisbury Master Plan?

We hope you decide to join us for this very important discussion about our community’s future.

Your ideas will drive the direction of Tisbury’s future.

Your ideas will have a direct impact on the fate of our town.

Please RSVP to tisburymasterplan@gmail.com by Friday, October 7th so we can prepare accordingly.

If you are unable to join us, we invite you to provide your answers to the three questions posed above about what’s working, not working, and what needs to be addressed in the Master Plan. Send your input to: tisburymasterplan@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Susannah Bristol, sbbristol@gmail.com

Rick Homans, rick.homans@gmail.com

Melinda Loberg, melindaloberg@gmail.com

Sean Roach, seanroacharts@gmail.com

Members of the Tisbury Master Plan Steering Committee

P.S. If you can’t make this meeting, we will be holding a Zoom meeting on October 19th — so stay tuned!

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We Want Your Perspective!

Join us in the process wherever you may be. What do you love the most about Tisbury? What is the biggest challenge that Tisbury faces?