Amazon scraps Westborough drone hub after local pushback

Amazon requested permission to withdraw its proposal for a drone delivery facility in Westborough, Massachusetts, following months of local resistance. In a letter sent to the town clerk and planning board on Friday, the company asked to pull its application without prejudice. The plan was originally submitted on July 24.

The proposal called for using a parking lot adjacent to an existing Amazon fulfillment center as a launch site. The company intended to operate a fleet of 83-pound drones capable of making up to 1,000 deliveries per day. These flights would have served more than a dozen municipalities within a 7.5-mile radius, including parts of Worcester and Shrewsbury.

Local opposition organized under the name Mass Blue Skies argued that the move was merely a delay rather than a cancellation. The group posted on its website on Sunday that the effort to stop the drones was not finished. They noted that Amazon stated it intends to continue working with town officials on future steps.

Mass Blue Skies urged residents to monitor the Westborough Zoning Board of Appeals. That board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the matter Monday night at Forbes Hall. The group said local government partners and citizens must remain vigilant during this process.

State lawmakers joined the local pushback by writing to Amazon and the Federal Aviation Administration. They demanded a formal review of the project. Municipal leaders from Westborough and neighboring communities endorsed the request for that federal oversight.

Amazon states it aims to serve 500 communities with drone delivery by the end of the year. The company currently operates approximately 15 drone delivery centers across the United States. Westborough was slated to become the first site in New England to offer this service. Amazon has also proposed a similar launch site in Connecticut, which has faced its own set of objections.