Will Town Meeting Allow Drive-Thrus?

At last week's Planning Board meeting, Westford resident Andre Lagasse presented a citizen's petition for the Oct. 15 Fall Town Meeting warrant asking for a change in Westford's zoning laws to allow drive-thru restaurants in land parcels zoned "Commercial Highway."

Currently, the only Commercial Highway zoned land parcels in Westford exist along the Littleton Road corridor.

The ban arose in the 1990s and remained despite a warrant article hoping to overturn it failed in 1998.

Lagasse cited health issues for his petition, noting that slipped on the pavement during a winter day when he was trying to get coffee, and that he would not have done so if he had been able to purchase the coffee from his truck.

He also noted that other senior citizens like himself have had issues with walking into fast food restaurants during inclement weather.

At last night's Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Bob Jefferies said the original prohibition came due excessive trash coming from fast food restaurants using drive-thrus while Selectman Jim Sullivan said he disagreed with the rule on the basis that it was inconvenient to families.

The Planning Board opted to continue the hearing until Oct. 1, but today we want your opinion: should Westford allow restaurants to have drive-thru windows?

CORRECTION AND CLARIFICATION: The petitioner's name is Andre, not Andrew. Also, the drive thru prohibition is just for restaurants.