Devens Enterprise Commission
 

During the past year Mr. Leonhardt was appointed to the DEC to serve as Harvard's representative, replacing Mr. Von Loesecke who was subsequently named as a regional representative by the Governor, filling a vacant slot on the Commission. Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Castro were appointed alternates by the Towns of Ayer and Shirley during 2002 as well.

HIGHLIGHTS 2002

2002 is one of the slowest years on record for development activity at Devens. Only four (4) Level II permits were issued in 2002. These included the Xinetics amendment to relocate their driveway on Pine Street more than 10 feet; 49 Walnut Street Garage, breezeway and historic district certificate; Media News' $3.3 million project for 74,416 sf (including a 20,700 sf addition to the Burke Building on Barnum Road); and finally the Guild of St Agnes $1.2 million project 10,800 sf child care facility on MacArthur. Many previously permitted projects were completed as our level one permit activity indicates.

2002 Permits Level 1 Permits 50 Sign Permits 6 Tent Permits 10 Demolition Permits 2 Level 1 Lotting Plans 2 Septage Hauling Permits 2 Certificates of Occupancy 72 Electrical Permits 105 Plumbing Permits 70 Gas Permits 69 Liquor Permits 2 Beaver Control Permits 4

DEC GOALS REVIEWED

Regulations:

The major focus of the DEC's activity during 2002 was the rewriting of our Regulations. Any regulatory rewrite is by its very nature an interactive and an iterative process. The DEC, in keeping with its commitment to citizen participation, began sending drafts of our regulations to the host communities of Ayer, Harvard and Shirley and meeting with the communities' planning boards, the citizens of Devens, the Joint Boards of Selectmen and their various subcommittees, with Mass Development and the development community in order to solicit input and feedback on our regulatory drafting efforts. Our website was utilized to present information on our progress (monthly Director's Updates) and final drafts of the regulations for public review and comment. As we enter the New Year the DEC is concluding the public hearing process on these new regulations which we expect will be finalized early in 2003.

Financial Self-Sufficiency:

As of July 1, 2002 the DEC is no longer receiving financial assistance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since that date the DEC has been drawing down its reserves to fund its ongoing operations while preparing a taxation plan. The DEC employed Clayton Carlisle, the consultant who developed Mass Development's initial service fee schedule to create a taxation plan for the DEC. The DEC and Mass Development have worked cooperatively over the year to make sure the two taxation plans will be compatible and that our clients will receive one tax bill with a line item for the DEC and a line item for Mass Development (similar to a municipal tax bill with a line item for the school department). Both Mass Development and the DECs' tax plans have been forwarded to the Department of Revenue and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance for input. The DEC's new tax plan will be in place for July 1, 2003. A public hearing to discuss the tax plan is tentatively scheduled for March, 2003.

Five Year Review:

The DEC was the only entity to complete its Five Year Review on time. The DEC participated in the JBOS Five Year Review process and our Regulatory rewrite implemented many recommendations contained within both the DEC's and the JBOS' final report. At the invitation of the JBOS, the DEC assigned Commissioners to serve on the various subcommittees formed as an outcome of their report. Phil Sidney serves on the Housing Committee, John Rounds on the Open Space Committee, Paul Routhier on the Transportation Committee, and Paul Von Loesecke on the Development Committee.

Eco Star Project:

The DEC initiated a joint public private voluntary environmental achievement and certification program during 2002. This project was jointly funded by the DEC and a DEP Solid Waste Planning Grant. A steering committee comprised of businesses (American Superconductor, Southern Container, Parker-Hannifan, Eglomise, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Pharm-Eco Laboratories, Gillette Company, Vitasoy USA Inc., Mount Wachusetts Community College) environmental groups (Nashua River Watershed Association, Mass Audubon, MA DEP, MA Office of Technology Assessment), and community interests (Devens resident, Town of Ayer, Mass Development) was formed which created twenty five environmental standards, discussed incentives and benefits for participation in this voluntary program, created a Statement of Purpose and Mission for the Eco Star program and are developing a workbook to assist participants in achieving Eco Star certification. Certification consists of achieving ten core criteria and an additional five from the remaining list established by the Steering Committee. A peer review committee will determine whether or not the criteria have been achieved. Plans are underway to formally launch the program in late spring of 2003 as the DEC endeavors to assist the Devens region along the path towards a sustainable and profitable future for all.

For those of you wishing to keep current with events at Devens, please utilize our 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.

Respectfully submitted,

William Marshall, Chairman