By every measure of progress, MassDevelopment is nearing completion of its mission at Devens; commercial development is thriving, planned housing development committed, and most of the infrastructure projects completed. The progress made on the Devens Reuse Plan has far exceeded expectations. While work remains to be done, MassDevelopment has reached a point at which an exit strategy should be under consideration; Harvard needs to be among those negotiating that exit strategy.
As the Devens project progresses toward substantial completion, MassDevelopment’s role as both a redevelopment agency and the provider of municipal services will eventually end. Municipal services will pass to a town government structure along with the ability to collect property taxes, and MassDevelopment will continue its remaining redevelopment role until its entire mission is complete, supported by revenues from land sales.
Nothing exactly like the creation of the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone and its inevitable dissolution has ever occurred in the commonwealth, or, for that matter, anywhere else in the country. All stakeholders—the towns, including Devens residents, MassDevelopment, the Enterprise Commission, and at some point the Legislature—will all surely act in good faith, but unplanned events could create crisis.
In response to the devastating economic impact of the Devens base closure, Chapter 498 legislatively created the Enterprise Zone, placing control of local government and economic development under the purview of MassDevelopment. While MassDevelopment’s role as the provider of local services has been exceptional, it has not been democratic. Might Devens residents question that the compelling public purpose identified in Chapter 498 no longer exists, now that lost jobs have been replaced and the local economy has recovered?
And if no good plan or consensus among the affected stakeholders is reached, might the Legislature simply dissolve the Enterprise Zone and allow existing town boundaries to re-emerge without regard to the immediate or long-term impact?
A Master Plan mandate
Harvard’s newly adopted Master Plan calls for a lengthy and comprehensive planning process to begin now. Whether Harvard resumes jurisdiction of its historic lands or not, the town needs to be proactive and deliberate in working with MassDevelopment to plan for transition of governance at Devens.
With this mandate in mind, the Board of Selectmen is sponsoring a forum featuring leaders from MassDevelopment and the Devens Enterprise Commission and from the town. The purpose of the forum, which will be held in upper Town Hall on Thursday, March 23, at 7 p.m., is to discuss the Devens ballot question that will be before town voters this year. Learn more about this forum at www.harvard.ma.us/devens.
All are invited to attend and participate in an important conversation on Devens.
Victor Normand was chairman of the Devens Economic Analysis Team, which submitted its final report to the town in 2016.
