The May 20 Harvard Devens Jurisdiction Committee (HDJC) meeting once again discussed the alleged “disenfranchisement” of Devens residents as the justification to accelerate the jurisdiction timeline. Among that committee’s new rationalizations is that with additional new housing, there will be an even greater number of disenfranchised Devens residents if a jurisdiction decision is not made prior to any new residents moving into Devens.
We have heard no logical arguments why the matter of jurisdiction should precede the addition of more housing and commerce in Devens. The chair of the HDJC and of the Devens Jurisdiction Framework Committee, apparently looking out for the interests of Devens residents, suggested that residents of Devens have no say in their own governance and “no vote in their own community, but get to vote in a community they don’t live in.” That is why jurisdiction must be decided before more residents move in (Harvard Press March 8, 2024.)
To the contrary, Devens residents are generally quite happy with how the Devens Enterprise Commission and MassDevelopment have executed the 1994 Reuse Plan. Devens residents enjoy outstanding service from local police, fire, public works, and utilities among others. These highly professional and experienced organizations provide much higher levels and quality of service than can be expected in a town of fewer than 10,000 people. Moreover, Devens residents do have direct representation through the Devens Committee.
Maintaining the existing jurisdiction timeline (2033) will likely be more beneficial for Devens residents, as those who may establish future residence here will have the opportunity to provide input for the future of Devens jurisdiction. The study and recommendation that will be made to the governor and Legislature will have a much more complete understanding and picture of Devens as development winds down and completes.
The Devens Committee looks forward to working with representatives from the towns of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley; MassDevelopment; the secretary of economic development; and the secretary of housing and livable communities to plan for more housing at Devens, including but not limited to Vicksburg Square. The matter of jurisdiction requires a sober, deliberative approach that can be worked on between now and 2033. There should be no linkage made between additional housing and the jurisdiction timeline.
Laura Scott, chair; Michael Alves, Tracy Clark, Cindy Carter, and Ralph Fehlberg
Devens Committee
Editor’s note: The Devens Committee is elected by the residents of Devens to advise MassDevelopment on matters of concern to those who live there. Gov. Maura Healey’s economic development bill, now pending in the Legislature, names the committee as a member of the working group to be convened upon its passage to plan for future housing at Devens.
