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.