When the Tisbury Planning Board embarked on the town’s first-ever town-wide master plan, they chose Barrett Planning Group to lead the planning process. As the primary hub for ferry and barge traffic entering Martha’s Vineyard, Tisbury’s Vineyard Haven terminal serves as the only year-round gateway for transporting goods and people to and from the island. Tisbury also has unique challenges in protecting coastal and inland water resources, preparing for sea level rise, and providing affordable homes for year-round and seasonal workers. To address these and other critical needs, the Town asked us to accomplish the following tasks:
Develop a community engagement plan
Analyze existing conditions and trends, and prepare recommendations for all the core components of a master plan under Massachusetts state law (land use, economic development, housing, open space, and recreation, natural and cultural resource areas, in ; identifying key issues and opportunities; and proposing recommendations and an implementation plan. The process was done concurrently with the development of the commercial district vision plan, prepared by Dodson & Flinker.
Our data driven analysis of the existing conditions looked at several key topics, including land use and zoning, natural resources and sustainability, housing, economic development, open space, transportation, community services and facilities, and governance – all aspects vital to Tisbury’s growth and future.
Master Plans are guided by more than just data, they’re guided by community vision. Using open houses, surveys, workshops, and stakeholder sessions, we employed a comprehensive community engagement plan to gain public insight. Working hand in hand with a dynamic Master Plan Steering Committee (MPSC), we engaged a wide perspective of ages and groups, including town staff, officials, business owners, both year-round and seasonal residents, and students. We were thrilled to have a high school student on the MPSC, who added valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing younger generations. .
At the conclusion of the nearly two-year process, we presented a 300-page plan that addressed eight key areas of municipal concern. Among the recommendations was a restructuring of the town government from Town Administrator to Town Manager, giving more authority to the town’s lead executive. This was critical for increasing the Town’s governance capacity and improving the decision-making process. Other recommendations included regionalization of infrastructure, zoning reform, encouraging more mixed-use development, and development of a land management plan. The plan also prioritized encouraging policies that increase equitable and sustainable housing choices to meet the needs of the community.
The Planning Board unanimously adopted the plan in April 2024, and several recommendations are already in the implementation stage. The contributions and support of municipal leaders, business owners, and residents formed the foundation of this collaborative effort, keeping it on track and leading to positive change. In December 2024, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-MA) gave Tisbury’s Master Plan the 2024 Best Comprehensive Planning Award for a Small Community.