[CPEO-IRF] Devens (MA) disposition

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Ashe: Harvard's negotiations in Devens disposition get a failing grade

Opinion by Bill Ashe
Harvard Post (MA)
September 22, 2006

Have you noticed the ineptitude of Harvard in negotiating terms with 
Mass Development in the Devens disposition process? Harvard, with the 
most land in Devens - the best land for development of real estate and 
recreation, and therefore the greatest potential for tax income - comes 
out of the process at the bottom of the list. Some negotiating!

Due largely to MassDevelopment's flawed and incomprehensible planning 
process - if one can call it a planning process - Ayer and Shirley will 
fare much better than Harvard if Scenario 2B comes to be. Why? Simply 
because Ayer and Shirley selectmen have negotiated firmly and more 
intelligently than Harvard's selectmen. Certainly they have acted more 
positively in their respective towns' interests.

In Scenario 2B Shirley gets back jurisdictional control of all its 
historic land, and Ayer gets back much of its land. Both towns get full 
fee title to certain lands at no cost, substantial road improvements at 
no cost, waste water treatment usage, water use rights, recreational 
privileges, etc., etc. Ayer and Shirley's tax income would far exceed 
Harvard's - despite, as stated above, the most land and the most 
valuable land lying within the town of Harvard's boundary.

...

For the entire column, see
http://www2.townonline.com/harvard/opinion/view.bg?articleid=580890

--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org

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