WestboroughTuesday, November 3
Amazon asks to withdraw its Westborough drone-delivery plan but says a revised one is coming
The Daily Framingham team
If you've followed Amazon's drone plan out in Westborough, here's the latest. In an Oct. 30 letter, Amazon asked to withdraw its site-plan application for a launch site at 64 Otis St., "without prejudice," so it can file again. Spokesperson Lindsay Hamilton said, "We will be resubmitting a revised project soon, after further discussions with local stakeholders."
The pushback was loud. Westborough Town Meeting voters approved restrictions on ground-based commercial drone operations, and the Community Advocate traced the timeline from Amazon's August pitch to the withdrawal.
Amazon's drone plan went from pitch to pullback in under three months
- Aug. 18Prime Air tells the Select Board it wants nearly 1,000 drone deliveries a day.
- Sept. 23Amazon hosts a community meeting on the drone plan.
- Oct. 19Town Meeting approves drone restrictions, 510-13.
- Oct. 30Amazon asks to withdraw its application without prejudice.
- Nov. 10The Planning Board will take up Amazon's withdrawal request.
Sources: Boston.com, Community Advocate
- Planned volume: up to 1,000 deliveries a day
- Package limit: under 5 pounds
- Delivery range: 7.5 miles, about 15 surrounding communities
- Bylaw still needs the attorney general and MassDOT Aeronautics Division
State Sen. Michael Moore told Boston.com that he and other legislators plan to file legislation to empower communities to protect against drone concerns.
Sources: Boston.com, Westborough Patch, Community Advocate