Devens Enterprise Commission

This is a state performance audit of the agency that regulates land use, planning, and permits for the Devens redevelopment area, which used to be part of Fort Devens.

“Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993 established the Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) as the entity that has local regulatory and permit-granting authority over a portion of the former federal military base known as Fort Devens.”

The State Auditor reviewed whether DEC had proper rules and whether redevelopment progress was being measured.

“Below is a list of our audit objectives, indicating each question we intended our audit to answer; the conclusion we reached regarding each objective; and, if applicable, where each objective is discussed in the audit findings.”

The redevelopment was meant to turn a former military base into productive civilian use, including jobs, housing, business space, and preserved open space.

“The reuse plan anticipated the development of 4,400 acres by the creation of 8 million square feet of commercial space, 7,000 jobs, and 282 units of housing.”

For residents, the practical benefits include jobs, business activity, housing, recreation or conservation land, and faster permitting through one local authority.

“Consolidating activities under one organization means that interested organizations generally receive expedited permitting for development, since they are only dealing with one permitting entity.”

The audit did not find major problems in the areas reviewed, and it found that DEC had made significant progress carrying out the redevelopment plan.

“Since the approval of the reuse plan, DEC has made significant progress in implementing various aspects of the plan.”

The report does not list corrective actions or recommendations; it shows redevelopment continuing, including additional housing plans and ongoing sustainability progress.

“153 units have been developed and occupied, and plans are in place for up to 124 more units.”

This matters because Devens is a long-term redevelopment project with economic, environmental, and community goals, not just a single construction project.

“It provided for these goals to be accomplished within an ecologically and sociologically sustainable framework over 40 years.”

DEC is the local decision-maker for permits and land-use rules in Devens; MassDevelopment handles acquisition, control, maintenance, redevelopment, and property tax collection.

“The Act also provided for another entity, the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, known as MassDevelopment2 (a state finance and development authority), to be the exclusive agency responsible for acquisition, control, maintenance, and redevelopment of Devens.”