An Island-wide Landscape Policy for Martha’s Vineyard
Final Report to the Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation
Ella Braco, Master of Landscape Architecture Candidate 2013
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
December 2012
Background
This summer I worked with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) and their
partner, Polly Hill Arboretum on an Island-wide Landscape Policy. This policy will apply to all
new projects that are expected to have be a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) based on
their size, scope, and location. The policy is intended to prevent inappropriate development that
would negatively impact the environment and/or character of the island.
The MVC has developed many formal policies so that developers can review them prior
to investing into the design of a site, planting and architectural plan. However, the MVC had not
yet come up with a formal landscape or site design policy. Developers have recently become
frustrated with the MVC because they have invested time and energy into their site and planting
plans, only to find out that none of the plants they have selected are appropriate to that area, or
that they were developing too close to a wetland, for example. In these cases, the developers
have to go through a round of revision, a process that costs time and money, and generally leaves
Developers upset with the MVC. A formal landscape and site design policy was needed to ensure
better communication, respect, and general good relations between developers and the MVC, and
to ensure developers spend money on ecologically sensitive development.
Accomplishments
I reviewed all of the past DRI decisions to get a sense the informal policies the MVC
staff already had. I also review landscape and site design policies for areas with similar
conditions such as Nantucket, to see if there were topics the MVC had not considered. I wrote
the first formal draft of landscape policy and initiated meetings and discussions among invested
parties. I worked primarily with the Executive Director of the MVC, Mark London, but also
with the Senior Planner Bill Veno, and the DRI Analyst and Planner, Paul Foley, and my advisor
Cheryl Doble to revise this policy and prepare for community discussions. I also reviewed
technical resources to ensure that the environmental based policies we had, were supported by
research. Mark London has continued my effort and brought this draft to a wider community
audience for feedback and support. The final policy is expected to be adopted in the Spring of
2013.
In addition to the policy, I worked with Tim Boland, the Executive Director of Polly Hill
arboretum and Erin McKeon, their graduate intern for summer to developed a comprehensive list
of plants that are native to the region. This list is available at Polly Hill Arboretum and is
referenced in the MVC’s Landscape Policy. We focused on native plants because once
established they do not require any fertilizer, they generally do not become invasive, they
generally provide more benefit to the entire ecosystem, and they are less likely to harbor diseases
that could wipe out existing healthy ecosystems. Tim Boland will continue to update this list as
more information is known about these native plants. He will also continue to add lists of plants
that are known to function well on the island, but not necessarily native. These plants will be
particularly useful in urban conditions where native may not be able thrive, and are therefore not
the most appropriate.
The last project I worked on in Martha’s Vineyard was a hand out for both the MVC and
Polly Hill Arboretum to give to home owners interested in incorporating native plants in their
own backyard. These hand outs illustrated planting strategies for both casual and avid gardeners
that help people understand how to maximize the ecological benefits of individual gardens.
Contribution to my Capstone
While working at Polly Hill Arboretum and the MVC I attended many of their
community meetings, lectures, and workshops which provided depth and context to my
understanding of my work in this region. Specifically, I attended a lecture on Native Pollinators
and their value in providing ecosystem service, and another on Modeling Ecosystem Services in
GIS. These events became the inspiration for my capstone project required to complete my
masters degree in Landscape Architecture, and connected me to key people studying my topic of
interest. Next semester I will be working on my project: “Designing A Regional Landscape that
Supports Pollinators and Food Production.” I will be using a GIS model to perform my initial
regional analysis to understand where habitat is sufficient or insufficient for native pollinators. I
will also use a similar process from this summer to come up with a native plant list that supports
native pollinators.
Acknowledgements
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Sussman Foundation, the
MVC, Polly Hill Arboretum, and to Cheryl Doble. The policy I wrote this summer will continue
to be refined, and will change to meet the evolving needs of Martha’s Vineyard. I believe this
effort came at a crucial time for the MVC and I hope that it continues to work for both the MVC,
the developers, and the residents of Martha’s Vineyard. The experience greatly contributed to
the formation of my capstone, and the contacts that I made during this experience will continue
to contribute to the depth and interdisciplinary nature of my capstone.