Westford Votes Against Allowing Drive-Thru Restaurants Again

WESTFORD, MA — There will be no drive-thru restaurants for Westford. Saturday, the question came before the town's legislative body, which is anyone that showed up to Town Meeting, and it failed. Again.

Concern about idling cars — although the restaurants would be required to put signs up prohibiting idling and create parking spaces so cars could park and wait— won out.

In the end Town Meeting failed to achieve the 2/3 majority needed to pass the new zoning law.

The ban arose in the 1990s and remained despite attempts to in 1998 and again in 2012.

Proponents say businesses should be allowed to choose how they do business, and say it's a helpful tool for mothers with children, or people with mobility issues. Opponents worry that it will encourage littering along the side of the highway, back up traffic with long lines of cars turning into fast food restaurants, or promote big businesses in town.

Last year, amid pandemic, proponents argued it was a safer option - for both the workers and the customers - than going into the restaurants. Opponents said curbside pickup was sufficient. After it didn't achieve the 2/3 majority of Town Meeting in 2020, a study group researched possibilities that could address concerns expressed.

The Planning Department conducted a survey to Westford residents and collected 1,695 responses. Some 67 percent of those who participated said they were for drive thru restaurants and just under 33 percent were opposed. They held forums and a public hearing.

In an effort to address concerns, the town put together a proposal that would require signage restriction, make accommodations for traffic and overflow, noise, hours of operation and idling for a 4-mile district where it would be permitted along 110. Drive-thru"kiosk" type restaurants where there is no dining would not be permitted.

Eric Barber-Mingo, of Dunstable Road, said he was for the proposal because it was presented as another option that would help accessibility.

"I have been that person with three little kids in the car, who can't just jump out and get the food. I have been the person with the recent knee surgery who is stuck in the car and has difficulty getting out to get food. I have been the person whose spouse has been disabled needing a wheelchair," Barber-Mingo said. "Allowing the drive-thru for accessibility reasons is important for all of us who find ourselves in different stages of life where we find ourselves in difficulty."

Others said the zoning would be unfair to businesses already place, expressed concern about enforcement of regulations and worried that drive-thru dining would increase carbon emissions, even with signs prohibiting idling.

"I'm nervous about the latitude, I'm nervous about enforcement," said Harry Rosenberg of Rotten Road.

A proposal that would require a two-year reprieve before bringing a zoning bylaw changes back to Town Meeting also failed for lack of a 2/3 vote. So, it's possible this drive-thru question may return for the next Town Meeting.