Editors, Vineyard Gazette;

There is a deep concern in our formerly-peaceful area of Vineyard Haven that the expansion plans for the Montessori School will have a harmful impact on the neighborhood.

Causes for alarm include the anticipated doubling of traffic on Tashmoo avenue — a two-way street with parking issues — the dramatic increase in school population, and the gigantic size of the complex itself and an additional two-story structure requested on that limited sized site.

Of greatest significance would be the potential drainage, septic and sewage concerns during our ever-increasing torrential downpours. They are reputed to flood septic systems with potential to affect the Tisbury town beach and the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, both located at the end of Owen Little Way, a mere block from the proposed enlarged campus. This proved to be the obstacle in the 1980’s to the condominium project initially destined for that site.

Septic systems, especially one that could accommodate such a large group of staff and students year-round, on a site so close to town and fragile beaches, should bear serious investigation and concern. Another cause for consideration is the anticipated degradation of our residential neighborhood and greatly-increased noise in the area.

In the mid-1980s concerned neighbors rallied successfully against the condominium proposals for that location. Then a nursery school was suggested as an alternative. We taxpaying residents objected strenuously but were assured back then by a Tisbury planning board representative that “we had nothing to fear from a tiny nursery school.”

My own 1880 Victorian home directly abuts the school playground where storm windows must be kept on year-round to blunt the sound of children who are located a mere 15 feet away. What has been particularly egregious, but apparently legal, has been the sudden construction on that site of a three-story additional building with no consideration or approval from taxpaying neighbors, owing to the pre-existing Dover Amendment.

Capt. Ralph Packer Sr. was reputedly the original owner of the lovely Victorian Tashmoo Inn, prior to its destruction by fire in the mid 1950s. My historic 1880 home adjacent to it was his own family residence. To assail this area holding such a significant background of local history might also be considered a tragedy.

Doreen Kinsman

Vineyard Haven