Planning Board withdraws gateway zoning amendment, advances design review and specialty food shop articles
Planning Board defers contentious zoning revision for Massachusetts Avenue corridor. Acting Chair Rich Guzzardi led a nearly four-hour public hearing on five proposed amendments, ultimately withdrawing the gateway business district overhaul for Article 4.1.3 after owners of industrial businesses
Planning Board · Meeting of March 16, 2026
BOXBOROUGH — Planning Board defers contentious zoning revision for Massachusetts Avenue corridor. Acting Chair Rich Guzzardi led a nearly four-hour public hearing on five proposed amendments, ultimately withdrawing the gateway business district overhaul for Article 4.1.3 after owners of industrial businesses including Element Materials Technology and Lindskog Balancing expressed concern the changes would jeopardize their operations. The Board unanimously recommended three other articles for Annual Town Meeting: expanding the Design Review Bylaw to Business and B2 districts (4-0-0), clarifying the Specialty Food Shop definition to allow beverage sales (4-0-0), and approving a plastic bag and polystyrene reduction bylaw (4-0-0).
The Board also unanimously backed a home rule petition to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and withdrew the proposed Scenic Road Bylaw after public comment raised concerns about property owner notification and education.
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Source: the Planning Board meeting of March 16, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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