Devens Enterprise Commission
 

The Devens zoning by-laws provide for Level One and Level Two permits, which further facilitates the permitting process. Level One actions allow rapid approval at the Administrative level. Level One involves relatively minor adjustments to site plans, lot lines, and architectural modifications in historic areas, as well as wetland certificate of compliance. Level Two action require a full public hearing, and open review process and generally involves larger scale undertakings.

2000 was another eventful year for the Devens Enterprise Commission. Under the direction of the DEC’s new Land Use Administrator/Director Peter C. Lowitt, AICP and with the able assistance of staff planner Sharon Wason (AICP) and administrative assistant Mary Quinn the DEC launched a new web site, www.devensec.com. The purpose of this web site is to provide transparency for the DEC and to communicate how it reaches its decisions, provide accurate information regarding its regulations and processes, and communicate more effectively with the citizens of our host communities of Ayer, Harvard and Shirley. Other DEC duties include the provision of inspectional services which are ably conducted by Gabe Vallente, Wellman Parker and Bob Freidrichs. Our legal and engineering assistance are covered by contractual relationships with consultants.

Highlights 2000 The DEC launched its web site, concluded its Five Year Review in a timely fashion while continuing to work with our friends on the Joint Boards of Selectmen and Mass Development to participate collaboratively on this project, and maintained an efficient and proactive regulatory and inspectional role at Devens.

The first half of 2000 saw the DEC operating in its permitting function, issuing 8 Level II Unified Permits during this period and 15 for the entire year. During the second half of 2000 Devens has begun to resemble a construction site, as many of these projects are implemented. Jackson Roads relocation and the American Superconductor project at the corner of Jackson and Givry symbolize the activity underway across the entire enterprise zone. The accompanying chart reveals the extent of development activity at Devens since its inception.

ANNUAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 2000

Operational Improvements:

This was the top priority established by the DEC in May of 1999. Since that time we have rewritten the Regulations, including adopting a new Wireless section, placed the Devens By-Laws and DEC Regulations on our web site in a searchable format, and handled more projects in one and a half years than had occurred during the prior four years of operation. In summary, the DEC’s goal of improving our permitting function has been successfully accomplished. As we continue to evaluate our efforts and the day to day function of the DEC we have shifted more emphasis to the inspection side of the ledger and will be suggesting further changes to Regulations to reflect lessons learned. With housing coming into play we will be introducing a section dealing with home occupations as we strive to keep ahead of the curve with our operational environment. The enticing issue of pavement thickness will be laid to rest during the upcoming revisions.

Update the Role of DEC:

Does the DEC have a planning role in addition to its permitting and enforcement role? We have taken a position that our duty is also to enforce the Reuse Plan, especially the sustainability issues that underlie that Plan and permeate the By-Laws and our Regulations. Our recent decision to include funding for a more complete study of the North Post area reflects the DEC functioning in a planning role. During the past year and half we have grappled with this issue and moved into a more proactive posture as an organization.

Communications:

The DEC has achieved its greatest progress in this area. We have opened clear lines of communications with our host communities and Mass Development. We have created a transparent regulatory environment through our web site (www.devensec.com) and the inclusive and participatory process we undertook to revise our regulations. We have reached out to the community, speaking in elementary school classrooms and Rotary dining rooms. The DEC has sponsored a Trails Report whose goal is to make Devens more accessible to our neighbors and are now working to implement that Report. We have supported and participated in community efforts such as Communities Connected by Water and regularly attend JBOS meetings in order to keep up to date with issues of concern to our host communities and the citizens of the area. We continually work at differentiating the DEC from Mass Development and, I believe, will continue to have to do so for some time. We have made great efforts in the communications area to date, including trolley tours and co-hosting the Senate President and Speaker of the House at Devens. Communications is an effort that requires ongoing attention and should remain a focus of the DEC.

Financial:

The DEC is working diligently to achieve financial self-sufficiency. We have hired a consultant to develop a Municipal Service Fee structure for the DEC and have moved from a reactive position, waiting for Mass Development to assist us in this effort, to a proactive position wherein Mass Development will be reacting to our proposal. This will hopefully work to the benefit of both parties as it will enable us to better meet the legislative deadline imposed on us to become self-sufficient as well as meet the timetable for Mass Development to include our Municipal Service Fee in their lease renegotiations scheduled for 2001.

Design Review:

After much discussion the DEC has agreed to incorporate requirements for cross sections and renderings in our Regulations. We will also require a letter from Mass Development signifying that the applicant’s building complies with Mass Development’s Design Guidelines. By incorporating language into our Record of Decision we will be able to enforce these Guidelines into the future. Our next round of regulatory changes will include these changes.

DEC COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZED

DEC commissioner Paul V. Johnston (alternate from Harvard) received the prestigious Robert W. Lewis Award for Community Service and Leadership given by the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce. Fellow Commissioner Hermann Field received the highest award given in the area of planning being named a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners for his years of service as a planning educator and practitioner, including for his work in sustainability and his role as a DEC Commissioner. DEC Director Peter C. Lowitt was elected chair of the Economic Development Division of the American Planning Association as well.

Respectfully submitted,

William Marshall, Chairman