Boxborough Boards Align on Fall Timeline for Fire Station Zoning Fix

BOXBOROUGH — June 17, 2025 — Boxborough's Select Board, Planning Board, and Fire Station Building Committee met jointly June 17 to map a path forward on zoning changes needed to site a new fire station after the May Annual Town Meeting defeat. With the current station costing an estimated $4,000 per day in delay expenses, committee members pressed the Planning Board to bring a zoning article to an October Special Town Meeting tentatively scheduled for the Regency venue across two nights — one for MBTA Communities Act compliance, one for fire station zoning. Planning Board Chair Kristen said October is "a good target" but declined to commit, citing a full workload and the need for public hearings that she said cannot be shortchanged: "We need two thirds. So we need to hold public hearings to get that sense of what will two thirds of the town accept." Five sites remain under active consideration — 72 Stowe Road, 502 Mass Ave, a combined 700–832 Mass Ave parcel, 1300 Mass Ave, and 1414 Mass Ave — with Town Administrator Mike reporting a possible opening at 832 Mass Ave after an initial refusal from the owner reversed to a "maybe" the same day.