MassDevelopment Wins Approval to Rezone Devens Land for Innovation and Technology Uses
October 25, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Meggie Quackenbush, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2011 & 857-208-2777 (cell)
mquackenbush@massdevelopment.com
During three simultaneous town meetings known as a Super Town Meeting on October 24, Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley approved rezoning 32.7 acres of residential land in Devens, the 4,400-acre site located in north-central Massachusetts that MassDevelopment manages. Rezoning this land on the southern end of the Grant Road district for Innovation and Technology Business uses will create a roughly 40-acre site to accommodate a business such as a large biotechnology company. The zoning change failed to pass all three towns during a June 2015 Super Town Meeting, and MassDevelopment worked with town officials to clarify that only Innovation and Technology Business uses are allowed on the parcel. To learn more about this zoning change, visit www.courbanize.com/projects/devens-2016/information.
“The votes in Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley to rezone a portion of Devens land for innovation and technology uses will create opportunities for biotech, light industrial, and R&D companies to locate their larger facilities in Devens, boosting jobs and economic activity in the region,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “I would like to thank the voters in each town for their careful consideration and support of this proposal, and Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley officials for their collaboration and cooperation throughout this process.”
Located in north-central Massachusetts and managed by MassDevelopment, Devens is home to a varied mix of businesses, government organizations, and nonprofits employing nearly 5,000 people. Created by statute in 1993 to support business growth and attract economic development opportunities in the region, the 4,400-acre site features fast-track permitting and other incentives for businesses. The former military installation is recognized today as a national model for military base redevelopment. Along with its business tenants, the Devens community also includes more than 2,100 acres of recreation and open space, private residences, schools, and a network of human and social services providers.
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2016, MassDevelopment financed or managed 352 projects generating investment of more than $4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create about 8,200 jobs and build or rehabilitate about 4,200 residential units.
