Billerica Planning Board unanimously approves Boston Road cafe, E-Ink expansion

BILLERICA — January 13, 2026 — Billerica Planning Board unanimously approved a mixed-use special permit for a new cafe at 409 Boston Road and a building expansion for E-Ink Corporation on January 13. Attorney Stephen Nelson presented the 409 Boston Road application on behalf of owner Maureen Radoncic, describing a 1,600-square-foot cafe in the historic Killian and Lentine building near Billerica center, with three residential units above and behind the space. The board waived third-party traffic and stormwater peer reviews, instead relying on an in-house DPW traffic memo by staff member Heather Chew recommending that both left-turn-in and left-turn-out access be permitted from Boston Road. Approval came with conditions including DPW median restriping fees, satisfaction of all department memos, and a masonry-and-landscaping buffer along the neighboring Mazmanian property line. E-Ink Senior Director of Engineering Keith Jacobson said the 4,200-square-foot warehouse addition at 1000 Technology Park Drive involves no new staff and no additional traffic; the board approved five separate waivers and the site plan special permit unanimously. A public commenter, Ms. Sardina, urged the board not to waive the 409 Boston Road traffic study, citing proximity to Billerica center and nearby high-traffic driveways, but the board proceeded. The board also spent more than an hour reviewing a NIMCOG-drafted tiered site plan bylaw, using a 146-space parking expansion at 142 Pond Street — which required no Planning Board approval under current rules — as a case study for why the new thresholds are needed before the spring town meeting warrant deadline.