Devens Housing Working Group

Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 (the "Mass Leads Act") required the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) to convene a convene a working group to determine a strategy and plan to provide for increased housing production within Devens, including, but not limited to, the feasibility of allowing not more than 400 multi-family residential units in the Innovation and Technology Center zoning district established by Article V(A)(13) of the zoning by-laws of the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone. 

On May 14th, the Devens Housing Working Group unanimously approved its final report.

• Ashley Stolba, Interim Secretary of Economic Development - Chair
• Chris Kluchman, Director, HLC Livable Communities Division 
• Neil Agnus, Director/Land Use Administrator, Devens Enterprise Commission
• Laura Scott, Chairperson, Devens Committee
• Navjeet Bal, President and CEO of Mass Development
• Shaun Copeland, Select Board Member, Town of Ayer
• SusanMary Redinger, Select Board Member, Town of Harvard
• Brian Hildebran, Select Board Member, Town of Shirley

Devens Enterprise Commission

The Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) acts as the regulatory and permitting authority for the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone. Its role is to administer and enforce the reuse plan, by-laws, regulations and sustainability vision within the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone. It functions as a board of health, conservation commission, zoning board of appeals, historic district commission and planning board. For more information or to access the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone By-Laws, please visit the DEC's website.

Elimination of Commerical and Housing Caps (Effective November 20, 2024)

The Mass Leads Act updated Devens' development framework by removing the 1990s-era caps. The law:

1. eliminated the cap on the number of square feet of commercial and industrial development can occur at Devens; and
2. eliminated the cap on the number of residential units that can be developed at Devens.

The law did NOT modify other provisions of the by-laws regulating the development of housing within Devens nor did it require the issuance of development permits by the Devens Enterprise Commission for any specific projects.

Initial Draft
On April 1st, a subgroup of the Devens Working Group presented an initial draft report for the Group's consideration. The report and presentation are linked below:

• Initial Draft Report: Devens Housing Production Working Group Draft Report 4.1.25
• Presentation on Initial Draft Report: Devens Working Group Draft Report Presentation 4.1.25

Next, the subgroup solicited and reviewed comments and feedback from Working Group members and members of the public.

Revised Draft
On May 8th, a subgroup of the Devens Working group presented a revised draft report for the Group's consideration. The report is linked below:

• Revised Draft Report: Devens Housing Production Working Group Revised Draft Report 5.8.25
• Presentation on Revised Draft Report: Devens Working Group Revised Draft Report Presentation 5.8.25

The Devens Working Group collected input from members of the public from 2/25/25 - 4/28/25. Residents of Devens, Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley were especially encouraged to submit comments. 

All public comments can be viewed by downloading the following ZIP file: Devens Working Group -  All Public Comments 5.8.25

• Devens Working Group 2nd Meeting 2.25.25 Deck
  • Includes "Devens Fundamentals" presentation prepared by Neil Angus of the Devens Enterprise Commission
  • Community Considerations Sub-Group Findings