Press Release

The Martha's Vineyard Commission has decided to intervene or actively participate in two legal cases, in order to protect the Vineyard’s system of land use planning and regulation. Firstly, the MVC will intervene in the case in Dukes County Superior Court brought by the Aquinnah Building Inspector against the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head in order to argue in favor of the enforceability of the Commission’s regulations. The 1983 Settlement Agreement specifically provides that the Cook lands conveyed to the Tribe “. . . shall be subject to all federal, state and local laws, including . . . the regulations of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission . . .” Similarly, the 1983 Land Plan stated that the Cook lands will be subject to the regulations of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. The land in dispute in this litigation is located within the Coastal District DCPC.