Amazon pauses Westborough drone project after local pushback
The company withdrew its July filing on Friday but signaled it remains open to future drone operations in the town.
By Natalia Costa ·
Amazon requested the withdrawal of its drone delivery proposal for Westborough on Friday. The company sent a letter to the Town Clerk and Planning Board asking to remove the application without prejudice. This action follows months of resistance from local residents and state legislators.
The original plan, filed on July 24, called for the use of a parking lot near an existing fulfillment center. The facility would have launched 83-pound drones to deliver small packages. The proposal estimated up to 1,000 daily deliveries to more than a dozen communities within a 7.5-mile radius. This area included parts of Worcester and Shrewsbury.
Local opposition groups and elected officials played a central role in the delay. Mass Blue Skies, a coalition of Westborough residents, actively monitored the planning process. Members of the state’s congressional delegation also intervened by sending letters to Amazon and the Federal Aviation Administration. Those letters demanded a formal review of the operations. Municipal leaders from Westborough and neighboring towns endorsed that request.
Amazon stated in its Friday letter that it values its relationship with the Town of Westborough. The company said it looks forward to working with officials on next steps. Mass Blue Skies cautioned on Sunday that the withdrawal is a postponement rather than a permanent cancellation. The group urged residents to remain vigilant regarding future proposals.
The Westborough Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to hold a hearing on the issue on Monday night at Forbes Hall. Amazon aims to serve 500 communities nationwide with delivery drones by the end of 2026. The company currently operates about 15 drone delivery centers across the country.
Westborough would have been the first location in New England to host Amazon drone delivery service. Amazon has also proposed launching drones in Connecticut, but that plan has faced similar opposition from local stakeholders.
