Urban Affairs advances McDonald's drive-thru permit, marijuana lab zoning change

MARLBOROUGH — March 19, 2025 — Marlborough Urban Affairs clears McDonald's drive-thru and marijuana-lab zoning change in back-to-back votes. The committee voted 5-0 to recommend Order 25-100-9351, sponsored by Council President Ossing through Assistant City Solicitor Jeremy McManus, raising the citywide cap on independent marijuana testing laboratories from one to four; the Planning Board had endorsed it 5-0 on March 10. Ossing said the change would help Marlborough "attract more independent testing laboratories," noting the city currently has none. The panel then voted 4-0, with Councilor Doucette recused, to approve a draft special permit for a 3,830-square-foot McDonald's with drive-thru on a 74,000-square-foot leased parcel at 735 Boston Post Road East in the Wayside Zoning District. Attorney Ann Sobolewski of Prince Lobel represented the applicant. Hours were capped at 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., with no 24-hour operation. The meeting opened with remembrance of Councilor Landers, buried earlier that day.