Marlborough City Council rejects Ames Village overlay zoning amendment

MARLBOROUGH — September 8, 2025 — Marlborough City Council blocks Ames Village overlay district after procedural reversal. The council initially appeared to pass the zoning amendment that would have allowed roughly 90 age-targeted condominiums, but the city solicitor clarified that any objection defeats passage on the same evening, and four councilors objected, leaving the final tally 6-4 and the ordinance dead at day 90. Vice-President Sean A. Navin, the sole Urban Affairs opponent, said zoning is the council's only real leverage and warned the project would burden a part of the city still waiting for a new fire station. Councilors also voted 6-4 to extend until Sept. 22 a decision on Royal 401 Elm Street LLC's 203,500-square-foot warehouse special permit at 415 Elm St., and unanimously approved a $158,406.42 transfer to fund the DPW equipment operators contract and raised the retirement COLA base from $14,000 to $15,000.