Board continues West Main Street hearing to Oct. 27

Planning Board · Meeting of October 20, 2026

Northborough's Planning Board continued the 300 West Main Street hearing to Oct. 27 and reviewed missteps in its recent cell tower decision. Chair Amy Pretzke and member Millie Milton discussed confusion over legal risk, with Milton saying residents and board members were told "we can't deny this" even though an attorney said denial was only legally risky if it amounted to an "effective prohibition" of service. Members floated raising tower setbacks toward the 1,200- to 1,500-foot range used in some communities or the over 1,000-foot setbacks in Boylston and Berlin, hiring a telecommunications consultant, and adding "shot clock tolling" rules.

The Traffic Safety Committee reported on Davis Street cut-through traffic, about 6,000 vehicles weekly, and a planned study of the Allen and Hudson intersection, backed by a roughly $10,000 annual budget. The continuance passed 3-0; the board closed the meeting 4-0.

In the full story:

• Public Hearing: 300 West Main Street
• Traffic Safety Committee Report
• Cell Tower Decision Review and Bylaw Reform
• Zoning Bylaw Backlog: Drones, Battery Storage, Warehouses and Open Space
• Groundwater Protection Overlay District: Downtown Business District Upsizing
• Housing Bylaws: Cottage Dwellings, 40R Districts and State Conformity
• Scheduling and Minor Items
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,453 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.