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HATS – HISTORY AND DOCUMENTATION
CURRENT/ MOST RECENT DOCUMENTS:
A Memorandum of Agreement dated March 1992(DOC.1)
was signed by the
Chairmen of the Boards of Selectmen of each of the four towns (Bedford, Concord,
Growth and Development Policy Committee
Lexington and Lincoln), to establish a
MPL Chapter 40 Section 4(I)(DOC.2)Hanscom Area
pursuant to , to be known as the
Towns Committee (HATS)
. The preamble describes the concerns and aims including:
traffic, aircraft noise, and environmental threats; need for comprehensive planning;
retention of attractive characteristics; need to be able to receive and disburse funds;
communication, cooperation and implementation. The agreement covers membership,
voting, chairmanship and towns’ veto power. It sets out the purpose and powers of
HATS.
A Memorandum of Understanding dated June 1997(DOC.3)
(now expired) was
signed by the Chairmen of the four towns’ Boards of Selectmen, regarding arrangements
for chairmanship and administrative assistance.
A Memorandum of Agreement dated November 2000 (DOC.4)
was signed by
the Chairmen of the four towns’ Planning Boards, to establish an intercommunity growth
management process for the area where the towns border each other, by creating the
HATS Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Review Committee
. It refers to a
defined Study Area.
PREVIOUS HISTORY:
The Commonwealth of Masachusetts acquired 500 acres of land in the four towns
in 1941. The airfield was turned over to the Army Air Corps that year and military
operations dominated until it became a joint military and civilian facility in the 1950s. In
1955 the Hanscom Field Community Council was established by Hanscom officials with
representation from the four towns, for discussions and dissemination of information.
According to Concord’s Town Clerk, until the 1970s, discussions were largely limited to
ceremonies and community relations. Some towns had their own airport committees to
coordinate their liaison.
In 1974, general operations and maintenance of the airfield became Massport’s
responsibility and a Hanscom master plan was prepared. The towns had task forces and
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
advisory committees during this period. The was
established by joint agreement between Massport and the four towns, and was enshrined
Chapter 290 of the Acts of 1980 (DOC.5)
in legislation in 1980 as . The Commission’s
duties cover review and reaction with respect to decisions relating to Hanscom Field and
the Hanscom Field area.
Hanscom Area Traffic Study Committee
In the 1980s the (now known as HATS
I) was set up.
January 1988, a Memorandum of Understanding (DOC.6)
In was signed by the
Chairmen of the Boards of Selectmen of the four towns, to amend the HATS MOU of
January 1985 (i.e. HATS I), broadening the committee’s role to address land use issues
Hanscom Area Towns Committee
around Hanscom and changing the name to (HATS
II). It references a HATS DRI agreement in place at that time. There is significant
continuity from this 1988 MOU to the March 1992 MOA.
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