VHB, Inc. selected to lead joint base Cape Cod master plan

Sandwich, MA MassDevelopment has sleected VHB, Inc., to lead a team of consultants to support the development of a master plan for the 7,000-acre cantonment area at Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC) that will identify current and future spatial needs of the base and plan for the redevelopment of any surplus property.

VHB, Inc. will partner with Sasaki Associates, Inc., RKG Associates, Inc., Innes Associates, Ltd., and Goulston & Storrs to engage in a multi-year comprehensive planning process. This selection follows a Request for Proposals issued by MassDevelopment in December 2024 seeking a consultant, with responses due February 2025. MassDevelopment is also planning to work with the Cape Cod Commission to facilitate a robust and inclusive community engagement strategy with opportunities for public participation throughout the planning process.

The master plan will build on previous planning efforts, including the 2013 JBCC Master Coordination Plan, which MassDevelopment led in partnership with JBCC, and the 2013 Joint Land Use Study completed by Barnstable County and the Cape Cod Commission. The aim of the master plan is to optimize JBCC’s operational efficiency, support current military missions, and accommodate future needs, while also identifying opportunities to address the regional housing shortage and grow the local economy. MassDevelopment was asked by The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard to lead this initiative in partnership with The Adjutant General and JBCC officials as a leading member of the Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (MASS-TF).

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is excited to embark on a comprehensive planning process that helps position Joint Base Cape Cod for long-term success and identifies opportunities to expand housing and economic development on the Cape,” said interim secretary of Economic Development Ashley Stolba, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “We thank MassDevelopment, VHB, Inc. and its team of consultants, our federal and military partners, state and local government partners, and the surrounding communities for their leadership, expertise, and engagement on this important effort.”

“MassDevelopment is thrilled to work with VHB, Inc. and consultant partners Sasaki Associates, Inc., RKG Associates, Inc., Innes Associates, Ltd., and Goulston & Storrs over the next couple of years to develop a master plan for the cantonment area at Joint Base Cape Cod,” said MassDevelopment president and CEO Navjeet Bal. “We look forward to a robust community engagement strategy that brings a range of stakeholders and residents into the planning process.”

“This initiative reflects our commitment to securing the mission, serving the community, and investing in the shared future of Cape Cod,” said Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard. “As a Cape Cod resident and military leader, I recognize both the strategic importance of Joint Base Cape Cod and the vital role it plays in our local community. That’s why I asked MassDevelopment to develop a comprehensive cantonment area master plan – one designed to enhance the efficiency of our military and support operations and optimize the use of this critical state asset. Just as importantly, the plan will help facilitate much-needed housing production and economic development on surplus, infrastructure-ready parcels. This is a shared investment in Cape Cod’s future – one that strengthens our national security while advancing smart, sustainable growth for the region.”

JBCC, located in the towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich, is a full-scale, joint-use base home to five military commands training for missions at home and overseas, conducting airborne search and rescue missions, and intelligence command and control. JBCC’s commands include the Massachusetts Army National Guard, the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Cape Cod Space Force Station, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, and U.S. Coast Guard Base Cape Cod.

“Our team is honored to partner with MassDevelopment on this transformative effort. We look forward to engaging stakeholders and leading a transparent and collaborative process,” said Meredith Avery, VHB, Inc. New England regional manager. “We are committed to crafting a master plan that preserves the cantonment area’s critical military functions, supports civilian uses, and enhances the sustainability and vitality of the Upper Cape.”

The Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force was created in 2012 to partner with, support, and expand the missions and economic investments at and surrounding the six military installations in Massachusetts. Housed within the Office of the Governor and supported by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Cabinet Secretaries, the Massachusetts National Guard, and MassDevelopment, the MASS-TF supports the essential national security missions, people, and economic activity at installations.

“Congratulations to the MA National Guard, MassDevelopment and all of the community partners involved in this project for reaching this new milestone,” said Adam Freudberg, executive director, Massachusetts Military Asset & Security Strategy Task Force and the Governor’s Liaison to Military Installations. “Joint Base Cape Cod’s national security missions and the region’s economy will be enhanced through this robust and transparent master planning effort.”