Amazon moves to withdraw its Westborough drone delivery application after local opposition

Amazon has told Westborough, Massachusetts, that it is withdrawing its application to launch Prime Air drone deliveries from its Otis Street facility. The Westborough-based Community Advocate reported that Amazon sent a letter to Town Manager Kristi Williams on October 30. In it, the company said it will withdraw its site plan review application for drone launch pads at the site. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette quoted a letter: "Amazon hereby requests approval of the Westborough Planning Board to withdraw, without prejudice" the site plan application. No report says the Planning Board has acted on the request yet.

The full letter has not been published. The Community Advocate quoted it as saying Amazon "values its relationship with the Town of Westborough and looks forward to continuing to work with town officials on next steps." The paper wrote that the withdrawal "does not mean that Amazon has abandoned its plans altogether." As of the morning of October 31, the town's Prime Air page had not posted the letter or mentioned a withdrawal. It still listed the Zoning Board of Appeals' November 2 hearing on a residents' appeal of the town's zoning interpretation. It also still noted that the Planning Board had continued its hearing on the site plan to November 10.