Weighing the outcomes: Selectmen discuss Devens criteria

The view from Devens

When it comes to Devens disposition, Harvard may come a-courting, but Devens might not even want a date to the prom.

Tom Kinch, a member of the Devens Committee, attended Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting and offered his own views on Devens disposition.

In an interview with the Press, he acknowledged that there is some frustration with the slow pace of progress. “There have been so many studies done, and there’s so much information available, but everybody treats the subject as a brand-new thing and starts to do the work all over again.”

That said, he added that “it’s good, though, to see that people are finally taking action. Ayer has stated its positions, and Harvard is determined to verbalize what it is that Harvard residents really want.”

Kinch, a six-year resident of Devens and a member of the Devens Committee for the past three years, has been particularly excited by the successful development of the industrial base at Devens over the past few years. He has been less satisfied with the pace of residential development, noting the importance of “developing housing that allows people to live close to where they work. That’s especially important in this day and age.” When asked what he thinks would be the best outcome for Devens, Kinch was unequivocal in his opinion. “There’s no question,” he said. “We’re looking at the creation of Devens as its own town.”

Kinch expressed his firm belief that this would be the best way for the area to reach its stated goal of the continuation of jobs and regional benefits.

By organizing Devens under one jurisdiction, he says, the area would be best equipped to address its own infrastructure needs, including those elements which would ensure quality of life for its residents—development of housing, commercial zones, and schools, to name a few.

Kinch also expressed his concern that Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley don’t really “have the wherewithal” to manage a developing town, referring to the strong industrial base and its related challenges.

In order for the law regarding Devens disposition to be modified, there has to be agreement of the three towns, Mass Development, and the Devens Enterprise Commission.

“We think that we can muster the support from the towns as long as we’re able to show the towns that there’s a benefit to the towns as well as a benefit to the region and the continued development of jobs,” said Kinch. In the meantime, Kinch plans to continue advocating for Devens by expressing the needs and wishes of his neighbors.

“This is a new situation that requires a fresh approach,” he said. “And we have a unique chance to do that here.”.

—Erin Ash Sullivan