Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) and its Unified Permitting system for the Redevelopment of Fort Devens was honored by the Pioneer Institute as the winner of the 16th Annual Better Government Competition. Winning Entry (138K PDF file)

PRESS RELEASE: June 26, 2007

DEC Wins 2007 Better Government Competition

Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) was honored by the Pioneer Institute as the winner of the 16th Annual Better Government Competition for the Unified Permitting System for the Redevelopment of Fort Devens. The DEC combines the roles of Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Assessors, and Historic District Commission in one permitting body, issuing unified permits for the development within the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone comprised of portions of Ayer, Harvard, Shirley in North Central, MA.

Chosen first from a field of over 298 entries from across the nation DEC Chairman, William P. Marshall acknowledge the importance of the Commission's work in helping the Devens Redevelopment process and serving as a model for the state's new expedited permitting law, Chapter 43-D. Governor Deval Patrick keynoted the event and acknowledged the importance of the DEC's unified permitting system in attracting firms such as Bristol-Myers Squibb to the Commonwealth. "Speed to market, as exemplified by Devens, is key," Patrick said.

"Timely permitting, as of right development and high quality built environment go hand in hand at Devens," Marshall noted.

He stressed the importance of a Master Plan or Reuse Plan grounded in a well designed citizen participation process, consistency between the Reuse Plan, zoning and high quality regulations, and the importance of professional staff in order for streamlined permitting to operate successfully. Mr. Marshall concluded: "the DEC is successful because these components operate in harmony as part of our unified permitting process."