Concord Journal
Thursday, December 2, 2004

HATS looks at 'What if' plans for Hanscom

By Barbara Forster

The Hanscom Area Towns Committee learned on Monday, Nov. 23 about
ongoing efforts to work on contingency plans in the event that Hanscom Air Force
Base is closed.

Lincoln Town Administrator Tim Higgins, who led the effort for federal
assistance, explained that the Office of Economic Adjustment, an agency of
the Department of Defense, has programs to help state and local governments
plan ways to adjust in the event of base closures.

"DOD assured us that it did not taint the campaign to build the base,"
said HATS Chairman Sara Mattes of Lincoln, noting that the towns strongly
support the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative, which is working
actively to keep the Air Force in the Bay State and has proposed ways to
expand the base.

"This is anticipating planning at its best," said Rep. Jay Kaufman,
D-Lexington, adding that the primary role for the legislative delegation in
this effort is as "cheerleader."

Although Mattes expressed hope that the collaborative effort is
successful, she stressed that only one outcome is preferable. "We hope to
put this (document) aside and enjoy the Air Force base as a neighbor for
many years," she said.

The federal programs include money before and/or after decisions are
made about the base. In fact, Higgins reported that the towns have received
a grant for $156,000; the amount could go to a maximum of $175,000 if
necessary. The towns are meeting the required 10-percent-match, in this case
$17,000, by picking up the tab for the consultant, Glenn Garber, former
Lexington planning director and the first director of the Devens Enterprise
Commission.

However, restrictions on how to proceed and how to use the money are
imposed. For example, the towns are not allowed to generate new data;
information must come from previous studies, plans, documents, etc.

In addition to identifying the stakeholders and an inventory and
assessment of base assets, the goal is to present legal, economic impact,
and transportation system analyses, redevelopment opportunities and
limitations, and the principles of reuse options along with entities that
would be responsible. Higgins stressed that the federal agency wants only
ideas, not details. "The intent is not to solve problems, just outline
challenges," he said.

Now that money is available, the next step is to assemble a broad-base
multidisciplinary team to create strategies and schematic plans on ways to
reuse or redevelop the base. Garber expects to have consultants on board and
ready to go to work no later than mid-January. "We have to do this on an
accelerated basis in order to be done by May," he said.

The project is on an extremely short timeline with as little as 16
weeks from receiving the notice to proceed.

Five mini-strategy meetings in conjunction with HATS are planned. The
meetings will be open to the public. "There is no flexibility, no slippage
in the schedule," said Garber. "We want the final draft near the beginning
of May."

On May 16, the secretary of defense must submit the list of proposed
military base closures and realignments to the defense committees and to the
BRAC Commission.

After HATS reviews the draft, the four town boards will sign-off on the
document.

On Monday, Dec. 13, Massport plans to unveil a new noise monitoring
system being installed at Logan Airport and at Hanscom. The agency's
consultants will be on hand to explain the system's capabilities.

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