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Devens Project Updates

Date: September 2017

To: Devens Enterprise Commission

From: Peter Lowitt, FAICP, Director and Neil Angus, AICP CEP, LEED AP, Environmental Planner

RE: October, 2016 to September 2017 Project Update

PREVIOUSLY PERMITTED PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRCUTION:

29 Saratoga - Integra Expansion: Integra, an engineering, product, manufacturing and fabrication company, is nearing completion of their 41,000 sq.ft. building expansion to their existing +/-29,000 square foot building situated between Ryerson Steel to the north and the US Army Post to the south. When completed, the expansion will be used for warehousing and office space. The expansion plans include the construction of 96 new parking spaces and upgrades to utilities, landscaping and the on-site stormwater management system.

The exterior of the expansion is nearing completion and a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued. The project also included a connection to the existing sidewalk system on Saratoga Boulevard and installation of bike racks to help encourage walking and biking in Devens. Preferred parking for carpool and electric vehicles was also installed to help reduce vehicular traffic and promote better air quality from lower vehicle emissions. To help ensure compliance with the Devens designated truck route, new signage was also installed on-site to direct trucks to the correct route. The project is expected to be finished this fall.

Existing building and new 96-space parking lot expansion at 29 Saratoga Blvd. – Aug. 2016

Existing building and new addition (far right) at 29 Saratoga Blvd. – September 2017

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66-68 Saratoga Boulevard Warehouse Expansion: In January, the DEC issued a Level 2 Unified Permit for the construction of a 429,173 sq.ft. addition to the existing 411,000 sq.ft. building located at 66 and 68 Saratoga Blvd.(former Gillette warehouse and distribution facility, now home to Quiet Logistics). Construction on the addition commenced early in the spring and has progressed rapidly. The addition will accommodate additional warehousing and distribution uses. The project includes 210 new employee and visitor parking spaces, 53 trailer parking spaces, 55 new loading docks, a dual rail spur connecting into the east side of the building and a third rail spur connecting into the north side of the building. Additional site work will also include stormwater management, lighting, landscaping and associated utility expansions and relocations. Due to the size of the addition, the new portion of the building will be built to meet the MA Stretch Energy Code requirements in accordance with the DEC’s Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Requirements (974 CMR 4.11). Approximately 66% of the structural steel is up for the addition and portions of the roof and walls are starting to be installed. The construction of the rail spurs is being coordinated with Pan Am and is expected to commence shortly. These rail spurs will have a significant impact on reducing additional truck traffic in the Devens region – an important multi-modal goal of the Final Environmental Impact Report for the redevelopment of Devens.

Aerial View of 66-68 Saratoga building expansion. Photo courtesy of GFI Partners – September 2017

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The existing portion of the building’s rooftop is covered in solar panels and when complete, the proposed addition would be able to support an additional solar array that could generate an additional 1-2 MW of solar electricity – adding to the over 10% of Devens Utilities energy supply that is generated by renewables. Due to the size of the building addition in relation to the site, the developer has a significant amount of excess topsoil. Working with Devens Engineering and Public Works, and in compliance with the Devens Soil Management Policy, the developer has relocated approximately 10,000 cubic yards of topsoil to the open space area between the Bates Street housing area and Saratoga Boulevard. The topsoil is being added to the existing landscape berming in this open space to raise the grade and provide better visual and noise buffering for residents along Bates Street from the industrial traffic on Saratoga Boulevard. Once all topsoil is relocated, the material will be stabilized/hydroseeded with a native New England conservation or wildflower seed mix and maintained as an open meadow which will further aid in screening. 249 Barnum Road: The redevelopment of the former Civilian Military Training Camp (CMTC) buildings on Barnum Road continues. The project includes the renovation of 3 existing buildings totaling +/- 9,500 sf, and construction of a new +/- 4,665 sf building, including new parking, utilities and associated site improvements. The first of the three buildings has been completely renovated and site work continues on the other two remaining buildings. The existing buildings vary in size between ±2,000 sf and ±4,000 sf, all are ±16’ in height.

The applicant has re-roofed the buildings and is in the process of completing the utility, driveway and parking areas. These buildings are listed as eligible for the National Register of Historic Buildings and the alterations were all approved by MassHistoric. When site improvements and building renovations are completed, these buildings will be rented out to small businesses that comply with the permitted uses in the Rail, Industrial, Trade Related Uses District. Similar to the development at 85 Patton Road, this project is also utilizing porous pavement to manage stormwater and treat and infiltrate it directly at the source. Due to the proximity of these buildings to the existing residential areas along Adams Circle, the developer has constructed a series of landscape berms along the rear of

the property to aid in screening the buildings and parking lot areas.

249 Barnum Road former CMTC buildings and new entry drive – September 2017.

Former CMTC building exterior fully restored – September 2017

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85 Patton Road – Health Partners New England: Construction is complete on this new +/- 78,000 sq.ft. 2-story building (Tara Vista Behavioral Health Center) at 85 Patton Road. The facility is licensed by the state and is serving patients with psychiatric and co- occurring disorders. The project incorporated a number of innovative low-impact development techniques to help manage stormwater on-site, including porous pavement for portions of the parking lot (decentralized on-site treatment and infiltration), rainwater harvesting tanks (to capture and reuse roof-runoff), and a reinforced turf driveway for emergency access (promoting localized recharge and reducing heat island impacts by reducing impervious surfaces).

As part of this project, the Applicant constructed a new sidewalk from the intersection of Queenstown and Patton Road, connecting to their new driveway entrance. MassDevelopment will construct the remaining portion of the sidewalk from the Applicant’s driveway to the Mirror Lake parking area –furthering the goals and objectives of the Devens Main Post Trails Plan, by providing increased bike, pedestrian and ADA accessibility to Mirror Lake and associated trails and recreational facilities for all of Devens and the surrounding region.

Newly constructed Tara Vista Behavioral Health Center entrance – August 2017.

Tara Vista Behavioral Health Center entrance off of Patton Road – September 2017.

New sidewalk at Tara Vista entrance. New sidewalk connecting to Queenstown St. Reinforced turf driveway for emergency access

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155 Jackson Road - Laddawn Office & Parking Expansion: The 22,467 sq.ft. expansion of the Laddawn office building and all associated site work was completed in late November 2016. The 71 space parking lot expansion area is also complete. This addition expands Laddawn’s corporate headquarters by 22,467 sq.ft., for a total of 32,567 sq.ft.

100% of the stormwater runoff from the expanded parking and new building addition is treated and infiltrated on-site through a series of biofiltration landscape islands, swales and a new basin in the rear of the new addition. Laddawn is a Member of EPA's Green Power Partner Program and manufactures packaging products with 100% renewable energy from sources like wind and solar power – further contributing to their corporate sustainability goals as well as the sustainable redevelopment goals of the Devens Reuse Plan.

New Entrance to Laddawn Addition – August 2017 Rear of new addition (biofiltration basin in foreground) - Nov. 2016

New low-impact development parking lot with biofiltration landscape islands. Landscape berms in

background help screen parking from nearby residents.

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Grant Road Housing – Emerson Green: Construction is complete on the first phase (17 units) of this 124-unit mixed residential community off of Grant Road and 16 of the 17 units are either sold or under agreement. These homes were built along a new, extended portion of Chance Street that now connects Elm Street, Buena Vista Street, Walnut Street and Antietam Street with Grant Road. This new portion of Chance street was constructed using the DEC’s new Residential Street Standards which allow for narrower pavement widths, on-street parking, street trees and sidewalks on both sides of the street – creating a much more pedestrian–oriented streetscape designed for people first. The narrow pavement and rear lane garage access, coupled with the reduced lot sizes, minimal setbacks, and front porch designs help bring the homes closer to the street to create a safer, walkable and more interactive community.

In addition to the more compact and efficient development pattern, the development includes a mix of single family and duplex homes, including one deed restricted moderate-income affordable unit available to individuals or families earning 120% or less of the area median income. This helps to meet the Devens housing diversity and affordability goals in the Reuse Plan. Building off of the success of the Devens Sustainable Housing Pilot Project on Cavite Street and Adams Circle, these homes are also very energy efficient with Home Energy Rating Scale scores in the mid to high 30’s – 60-65% more efficient than a traditional home. This portion of Chance Street is still under control of the developer however they have submitted a request to the DEC and MassDevelopment to formally accept this new portion of Chance as a public right-of-way. The street is anticipated to be accepted as a public way by the end of this year. Phase 2, which includes the reconstruction of Grant Road, two 20-unit apartment buildings, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes along Grant Road, is expected to commence later this year as well. Phase 2 will also include a mix of market rate, as well as low and moderate income units.

Chance Lane South: rear access to garages for homes on the south side of Chance Street - – September 2017

Emerson Green: New homes along the newly constructed portion of Chance Street looking east from Grant Road – September 2017

Reinforced turf for emergency access

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Chance Street re-paving and sidewalk extension/connections: As part of Devens Public Works regular road maintenance program, the existing portion of Chance Street from Elm Street to Antietam Street was re-paved in October 2016. As part of this re-paving project, Devens Public Works extended the new sidewalks on Chance Street that Emerson Green constructed, connecting them to the existing sidewalk network along Elm and Walnut Streets. These sidewalk connections will link the new Emerson Green development and all new proposed housing on Grant Road, with the existing historic residential neighborhood – thereby improving the connectivity and walkability of these residential areas and providing new and existing residents the option to safely walk and bike to the neighboring parks, trails, and commercial core of Devens.

Expanded sidewalk network connecting new Devens residential neighborhood with existing historic residential neighborhood- – September 2017

Looking west along new sidewalk on south side of Chance Street connecting Emerson Green with Walnut and Elm Streets- – November 2016

At the intersection of Chance and Elm looking south along the new sidewalk connecting into the existing sidewalk on Elm Street- – September 2017

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105 Walker Road – Little Leaf Farms: Construction is complete on the first phase of this +/- 221,000 square-foot greenhouse on approximately 13 acres of land located at 105 Walker Road within the Environmental Business Zone on the North Post. This first phase included 114,404 sq.ft. of greenhouse and office space, a small parking area and utilities, including a large rainwater harvesting basin that is being used to collect roof runoff and supply up to 80% of the water needed for crop irrigation. The greenhouse operation grows hydroponic lettuce and leafy greens indoors in a completely automated fashion. The facility utilizes over 25,000 mobile gutters that automatically move the plants as they grow through their 25 day growing cycle.

Currently, over 98% of lettuce in the US is produced in California and Arizona and it can take up to 7 days to get to the New England market. According to the owner, Paul Sellew, Little Leaf Farms harvests, packages and delivers lettuce to local grocers in a much more efficient manner, resulting in a fresher product, longer shelf life, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced water conservation – all contributing to the locally grown movement in Massachusetts and to the sustainable redevelopment goal of the Devens Reuse Plan.

A temporary certificate of occupancy was issued to the facility earlier in 2017. The owner still has a number of exterior improvements to complete prior to issuance of a final certificate of occupancy, however in September of 2017, Little Leaf Farms commenced construction of Phase 2 which includes a ~91,000 square foot expansion to their existing greenhouse so a number of exterior improvements will be completed as part of this second phase. Phase 2 will allow Little Leaf Farms to double their growing capacity to help meet the increased demand for locally grown lettuce. The owner is considering a number of additional facility modifications that will likely trigger the need for a new Level 2 Unified Permit from the DEC and a public hearing this fall.

Rear of Little Leaf Farms existing greenhouse and the perimeter foundation wall for phase 2 – September 2017

Inside view of greenhouse – August 2016. Photo ©Cheryl Clegg Photography

Entrance to Little Leaf Farms off Walker Road – September 2017

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Willow Brook Daylighting: MassDevelopment MassDevelopment completed the reconstruction of approximately 400 linear feet of Willow Brook that currently flows underground through a 30” culvert pipe. They received approval from the DEC in October 2015. This portion of Willow Brook was heavily altered and impacted by past military activities associated with the development and operation of Fort Devens. Since the base closure, MassDevelopment has been working to upgrade all infrastructure – both natural and artificial. Stormwater management has been an important part of ensuring the redevelopment efforts in Devens comply with Federal, State and local requirements, including the

Devens Reuse Plan, Bylaws and DEC Rules and Regulations.

This project removed the existing culvert pipe that previously carried Willow Brook and re-created an open surface channel for the brook to flow (daylighting). Willow Brook is a tributary of Nonacoicus Brook in Ayer – a tributary of the Nashua River. The project included the design and construction of three new stormwater management systems that tie in and pre-treat drainage from Cavite and Jackson Road, as well as portions of the Elm/Walnut residential areas and a portion of Rogers Field. Drainage from these areas was flowing into Willow Brook with very limited pre-treatment. This project is also consistent with the Devens Open Space and Recreation Plan goal of preserving and restoring important water resources and will complete an action item identified within the Plan (Goal II Objective C, Action 1.). The unusually dry summer helped avoid any significant impacts to the brook from construction activities. MassDevelopment and the DEC worked with the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) who received a grant for riparian restoration projects in the region. NRWA donated and installed a number of new riparian buffer plantings along the new stream corridor, helping to improve ecological habitat in this area.

Willow Brook daylighting project – During – October 2016.

Willow Brook daylighting project – before – September 2016.

Willow Brook daylighting project – After August 2017

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Route 2 Bridge Repair: In late August, the State Department of Transportation (MA DOT) completed the final paving and lane striping on the new Route 2 overpass at Jackson Gate. The center support columns on Route 2 were replaced and new decking, railing and fencing was installed. The bridge is now fully open to two-way traffic. A new/extended acceleration lane was added along the Route 2 eastbound access ramp that provides a much safer opportunity for traffic merging onto Route 2 eastbound from Jackson Road. A similar extended acceleration lane was added to the Route 2 eastbound entrance ramp at Shirley Road (Exit 36) which has also greatly improved safety of traffic merging onto Route 2 eastbound. Jackson Road – Additional Street Tree Plantings Upon completion of the Jackson Road Phase 4 street improvements, it was determined that there were gaps along the edges of the roadway where additional street trees could be planted. Recognizing the triple bottom-line benefits (social, economic and environmental) of street trees (see DEC publication: http://www.devensec.com/news/Benefits_of_Street_Trees.pdf ), the DEC funded the purchase of 18 additional street trees and partnered with Devens Public Works to plant and maintain them. The installation of these trees is consistent with the Devens Complete Streets Policy in that these trees will eventually provide canopies that will create a sense of enclosure and help to naturally slow vehicles down. The trees will also provide shade and make the walking and biking experience along the sidewalks and bike lanes more pleasant. The trees will also help absorb stormwater runoff (additional green infrastructure) and help extend pavement life and reduce heat island impacts through shading. For all these reasons, the DEC has included a budget line item for annual street tree purchases to continue to improve and increase the tree canopy cover in Devens.

Jackson Road looking north just past the Devens Fire Department. Additional street trees circled in red- August 2017

New Jackson Road bridge over Route 2 - looking southbound – September 2017

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Pine, Grant and Hospital Road Intersection Improvements: In November of last year, MassDevelopment completed a series of intersection improvements at the Grant and Pine intersection and the Grant and Hospital Road Intersection. This "road diet" project eliminated over 30,000 sq.ft. of pavement and greatly improved the safety at these intersections. The project eliminated the two curved portions of Pine Street (labelled 1 and 2 in the adjacent image) and replaced them with a straight single two-lane road (labelled 5 in the adjacent image) and created one T-intersection at Pine and Grant that is now a 3-way stop. The project also changed the alignment at the intersection where Hospital Road intersects with Grant Road, eliminating over 9,000 square feet of excess pavement and creating a new stop sign and much safer link to Grant Road.

Devens DPW has also installed a number of boulders and new plantings in the areas where the pavement has been eliminated. This provides context to drivers and helps direct traffic along the new routes.

New portion of Pine Street looking west towards Grant Road – July 2017 New intersection at Hospital Road and Grant Road – July 2017

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One Jackson Place Parking Lot Expansion and Façade Improvements Apex Properties, owners and managers of One Jackson Place have continued to attract new tenants to the former military intelligence headquarters building located at 27 Jackson Road. In addition to Mount Wachusett Community College, One Jackson Place is also now home to Applewild Preschool; R3 Educational and Dresser Rand, an engineering firm. The resulting increase in tenants triggered the need for Apex to construct the third phase of parking that was originally approved back in 2008. The third phase includes an additional 84 parking spaces, a new biofiltration landscape island and associated lighting and landscaping. This expansion was approved in 2015 however the final landscaping and stabilization was completed in late 2016.

In addition to the parking lot expansion, in the spring of 2017, the DEC and MassDevelopment approved façade modifications to help address drainage and rainwater infiltration issues that Apex was having on the front of the building. The silver/grey panels provide a more modern look while still complimenting the remaining brick exterior. Over the past 9 years, the landscaping has matured to help manage stormwater on-site, create a great campus-like atmosphere and reduce the heat-island impacts of this large parking area.

One Jackson Place Façade - 2008

One Jackson Place Façade - 2017

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Shirley Village Growth – Senior Housing Project: In January of this year, the DEC approved a Level 2 Unified Permit for the construction of a new senior residential housing facility on a +/-3.6 acre parcel located at the corner of Hospital Road and Elliot Road. This area was a former military housing neighborhood and former brownfield site that has been remediated to unrestricted standards. The project will consist of 58 units of rental housing for seniors (age-restricted to 62+) in a single three-story building. The project is designed to address the housing and service needs of seniors with incomes ranging from 60% Area Median Income (AMI) to 30% AMI. Housing units will be rental units and include both one- and two-bedroom apartments with full bathroom and kitchens in each, along with hallways designed to support the needs of those with disabilities. The building will include community spaces that will be used for social programming and offices for service staff, property management, flexible program space, community meetings and on-site medical visits. Site development, in addition to the building, includes a proposed 60-space parking lot and associated grading, drainage, lighting and landscaping. This is a proposed independent living facility (not an assisted living facility). The project is expected to commence once Low Income Tax Credits are secured. Bristol-Myers Squibb CMB Alterations and Fit-Out and Campus Sidewalk Expansion: In February of 2017, the DEC issued a Level 2 Unified Permit for the construction of a 665 sf loading dock addition to the new clinical manufacturing building (CMB) on BMS’s campus. The project includes the new loading dock, driveway access, elevator, and relocation of utilities. The loading dock and elevator will provide access to new labs that are to be constructed in early 2018 on the previously unfinished third floor of the CMB. This work is being done as part of BMS’s consolidation of biotech services at their Devens corporate campus. In an effort to improve the walkability and safety of the 89 acre Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) campus at 38 Jackson Road, BMS received a permit from

Aerial of Shirley Village Growth District parcel Boundary off of Hospital Road.

Women’s Institute

Parcel

Aerial of BMS campus and new CMB loading dock location.

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the DEC in August to add approximately 3,400 linear feet of cement concrete sidewalk to their existing campus sidewalk system. These new sidewalks are now installed and connect the campus into the Devens public sidewalk network at Jackson Road. The picture to the right shows the new sidewalks on the right and additional traffic calming measures including a speed hump (dark patch of pavement across the road) and crosswalk signage to naturally slow down vehicle speeds and better alert drivers of the pedestrian activity. This project was undertaken to help improve the safety and walkability of their campus – similar to the recently adopted Devens Complete Streets Policy for Devens (see “Other Updates” section for additional details on the Devens Complete Streets Policy).

POTENTIAL UPCOMING PROJECTS

McInnis Cement – 35 Saratoga Boulevard: In August representatives from McInnis Cement appeared before the DEC for a determination of whether or not their proposed operations would be consistent with the allowed uses in the Rail, Industrial and Trade-Related Uses District. The proposed facility would be used to receive, store and transport powdered cement throughout the northern Boston metropolitan area. While the site is not rail accessible, the proposed use is still part of a larger multi-modal distribution effort that involves international shipping through marine terminals. The DEC determined that the proposed uses and activities associated with their operations appear to be consistent with the development goals of that district, as well as the Patterns in the Reuse Plan. Staff and the Commission noted the importance of demonstrating compliance with the Industrial Performance Standards for air, noise and light, as well as the height limitations. The project representatives were confident that they will be able to meet these and all DEC standards. A full application is expected shortly.

OTHER UPDATES:

Devens Complete Streets Policy: In an effort to continue to redevelop Devens in a safe, healthy, smart and sustainable manner, the DEC partnered with MassDevelopment to adopt a Complete Streets Policy for Devens. Complete Streets contribute toward the safety, health, economic viability, and quality of life in a community by providing safe, accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation and cultural destinations for all users of our roadways, trails and transit systems, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, motorists, commercial vehicles, and emergency vehicles and for people of all ages and of all abilities. The Devens Complete Streets Policy will further the improved multi-modal accommodation goal of the Devens Reuse Plan by applying complete streets principles to all redevelopment projects and routine roadway maintenance. Devens has already done this in many of the recent road redevelopment projects that have included sidewalk extensions, new crosswalks, bikes lanes and shuttle stops for transit. The Complete Streets Policy includes a list of core commitments that the DEC and MassDevelopment have agreed to, as well as steps to implement the policy. This policy will make Devens eligible for additional state funding for road improvement projects and will help connect people and places within Devens and the surrounding communities. The complete policy is available on-line at: http://www.devensec.com/news/Devens_Complete_Streets_Policy_Final_Adopted.pdf Devens Historic Ovals: Historic Ovals were first installed on Devens street signs in 2003 by the DEC and MassDevelopment Public Works. They are part of a public education effort to link the names of Devens’ streets to their historic origins/references. Over the years, a number of these signs were lost or stolen. With the recent approval of the new streets that will be part of the Grant Road/Emerson green development, earlier this year, the DEC funded the purchase of new and replacement historic ovals for existing and future Devens Streets. MassDevelopment Public Works installed the new signage over the later summer of 2017.

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Devens Shuttle Bus Pilot Service: the DEC and MassDevelopment have partnered with Devens businesses and the Towns of Ayer and Shirley to commence shuttle service in the Devens region. Working with the Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART), as of April 24, 2017, Devens is now serviced by a fixed route shuttle service between Shirley and Ayer. The Devens regional shuttle provides access to and from Devens, downtown Ayer, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer MBTA train station, Shirley Municipal Center and Shirley MBTA train station. This new service also connects Devens to the communities of Fitchburg and Leominster - where surveys of Devens industries told us a large proportion of their employees reside. In addition, this new service provides residents of Devens, Shirley and Ayer the opportunity to connect to the Whitney Field and Orchard Hill Malls and the entire Montachusett Area Transit Authority bus system. During the first

week of operation, there were 24 riders but ridership continues to grow. During the week of the September 18

th, there

were 87 riders. This shuttle service, coupled with the recent improvements to the MBTA Fitchburg Line commuter rail, make a reverse transit commute from Boston to Devens finally possible – filling a huge gap in our sustainability picture for Devens. Mr. Lowitt and Mr. Kezer worked hand in hand with the communities, our businesses and MART to fund this program and bring it into operation. Many thanks to all parties for this assistance in getting this vital program off the ground. The full schedule can be found on-line at: http://www.devensec.com/news/Devens_Schedule.pdf Devens Special Events: Throughout the spring and summer of 2017, Devens continued to host a number of special events such as the 5

th annual Muck Fest, Berkshires to

Boston Bike tour, Mustang car club car show, Devens Robotica, 5K road charity race and the Devens Chili Cook-off. The 2017 New England Disc Golf Championships were also held the weekend of September 30

th and featured both existing courses on Devens (The Hill and the

General) as well as a third temporary course that was set up around the various open space areas surrounding Rogers Field and Vicksburg Square. All events were well managed and went off without any problems. Website Updates: The DEC continues to update its website with meeting and public hearing notices, staff reports, important community news and events information, and other general information on living, working and developing in Devens http://www.devensec.com/news.html . Recent news and events postings include public health information on West Nile Virus and free local Flu clinics, as well as water use restrictions that are currently in effect in Devens (no outdoor watering between 9AM and 5PM). DEC Facebook Page: In September of 2016, the DEC launched its own Facebook page. This page was launched to supplement the DEC website and provide an additional media outlet to help keep residents, businesses and interested parties up to date on projects, meeting announcements and notices from the DEC. Follow us at: https://www.facebook.com/devensec/

From left to right: Neil Angus (DEC), George Kahale (MART), Thatcher Kezer (Devens SVP), Peter Lowitt (DEC),Senator Jamie Eldridge, Mo Kahn (MART)and Robert Pontbriand (Town of Ayer) at the Ayer MBTA Commuter Rail Station for the launch of the Devens Regional Shuttle – April 24, 2017

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Truck Route Enforcement: Over the past year the DEC has received numerous complaints about truck traffic cutting through the residential neighborhood of Auman and Bates. In response DEC staff have partnered with MassDevelopment on a number of measures to deal with these complaints, including but not limited to:

increased monitoring by DEC and MassDevelopment staff;

increased state police monitoring and enforcement;

notifications to all businesses and those doing business in Devens of the designated truck route

mailed out updated truck route maps and

posted on the web

installed additional signage to direct the trucks where to go and not to go, and;

install speed warning signs to help slow traffic down. Residential neighbors have been very diligent in helping us identify violators as well. All of these measures have had a noticeable impact on reducing trucks cutting through the residential areas. While the truck issue seems to have been addressed, speeding of car traffic though the residential neighborhood along Buena Vista has now become an issue. A traffic safety committee was established with the Devens Public Safety Officer, State Police, Devens Residents and DEC and DPW Staff. To address speeding concerns DPW has re-painted the crosswalks and installed pedestrian crossing signs at the intersection of Auman and Buena Vista and planted additional street trees to fill in the gaps along Buena Vista as a more long-term solution to aid in traffic calming.

MassDevelopment will also be purchasing and installing a speed feedback sign that also records the speed of traffic. This will allow data to be collected to help analyze the extent/degree of the issue and allow for a more informed solution to be implemented. Numerous traffic calming measures were also discussed, including the installation of a speed hump and making the Buena Vista and Auman intersection a 4-way stop. Until more data is collected, State Police will continue to periodically monitor and enforce.

New No truck sign installed at Jackson/Buena Vista intersection Spring 2017 (“my GPS told me to go this way…” is the most common response from drivers violating this route so this new signage attempts to address that.)

New truck turn sign installed at Saratoga/Buena Vista intersection Spring 2017

State Police speed warning sign/radar On Buena Vista - Spring 2017

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities: Mr. Lowitt attended the Cities Alive Green Roof and Green Walls Conference in Seattle to present on Devens’ green roof and green wall policies. As a national expert in this arena he serves on the policy committee of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the North American green roof and green wall trade association. In this capacity he was able to present the 2017 Green Roof and Green Wall policy award to his longtime friend and colleague, Jeff Joslin who is the deputy planning director for the City of San Francisco which adopted a requirement that all new roofs for commercial and institutional uses have both vegetated (Green) roofs and solar. Planning and Zoning Reform in MA: Proposed legislation is before Massachusetts legislators to reform planning and zoning laws in MA. These reforms would make it easier for young families and seniors to stay in their communities by providing housing choices, promoting healthy, active communities with good access to open space and protections for critical natural resources through compact development patterns that are more walkable, bikable, and transit-friendly; and provide cities and towns the tools they need to plan for the future so they can take on their fair share of the region’s growth while improving local finances and quality of life. The proposed reforms also include predictable permitting rules to help small businesses, property owners, and municipalities make investments to strengthen the local economy This “Great Neighborhoods” legislation is based on many of the planning principles that currently govern Devens. Mr. Lowitt was in the State House hearing room on May 2, 2017 to testify in favor of the legislation and can be seen seated beside Littleton Town Administrator Keith Bergman in the picture above. You can learn more about the bill at: https://ma-smartgrowth.org/issues/placemaking-zoning/policy-agenda/

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DEC Sustainability Initiatives: STAR Community Rating System 2016 Leadership Program: The STAR Community Rating System (STAR) is the first national certification program to recognize sustainable communities. The STAR Community Rating System advances community priorities across the three pillars of sustainability: economy, environment, and society. STAR provides a clear, data-driven approach to assessing social, economic, and environmental conditions. The STAR certification process helps to identify gaps and prioritize strategies and investment to achieve a greater level of sustainability. Participating communities (such as Northampton, MA) report that the certification process helped them gain a deep understanding of their community’s strengths and needs and has provided a springboard for civic engagement, cross-agency coordination, integrated budgeting and performance management, partnerships with philanthropy, and economic development. In an effort to further promote the sustainable redevelopment initiatives at Devens and help guide Devens in its sustainable redevelopment efforts, MassDevelopment and the DEC have partnered together to participate in the STAR certification program. This effort will help our organizations jointly prioritize future actions and develop additional metrics to measure our progress – focusing more comprehensively on sustainable redevelopment. Since Devens has already implemented a number of sustainability measures in its redevelopment process, we were chosen by STAR to participate in their 2016 Leadership Program. In July, DEC Staff completed an initial assessment of Devens using the Leading STAR Community indicators – a set of 21 criteria used to help provide a snapshot of the triple bottom-line strengths and weaknesses of Devens:

The complete report is available on the STAR Communities website at: https://reporting.starcommunities.org/indicators/community/172-massachusetts-devens . This information is being used as an extension/formalization of the DEC’s Sustainable indicators report (third party cert). DEC Staff also recently completed the formal STAR Certification process and our full application to become a STAR Certified Community is currently under review by the STAR Technical Team. This full certification process is more comprehensive and will help us identify additional strengths and gaps, as well as metrics to help further track progress, publicize, and continue to promote Devens as a leader in sustainable development – both nationally and internationally. We expect to hear back from the STAR Technical Team by the end of 2017. Full details on the program can be found at: http://www.starcommunities.org/ and the Devens page is at: https://reporting.starcommunities.org/communities/172-massachusetts-devens.