Hanson Conservation Commission forwards five town meeting articles to warrant

HANSON — January 22, 2025 — Hanson Conservation Commission forwards five draft town meeting articles and advances a long-pending open space purchase. The commission voted unanimously at its January 22 meeting to send five articles to the Town Administrator for the annual town meeting warrant, including proposals to replenish the conservation fund, fund a dam inspection, support a Community Preservation Committee project at the Sleeper Conservation Area, accept a private land gift on Whitman Street, and consider acquiring the Wilkins store property on Main Street — though Chair David Elwell argued against his own fifth article, saying the lakeside parcel should be held for future MS4 stormwater work tied to a potential McAoon Street reconstruction. "Conservation shouldn't take it, but I put it in there to force the issue," Elwell said. Separately, Town Counsel has finalized and transmitted a revised purchase and sale agreement to the attorneys for Hubble Holdings, covering roughly 40 to 45 acres of a 91-acre parcel abutting town land off Crooked Cartway — the furthest the multi-year acquisition effort has progressed. The commission also unanimously approved a third year of phragmites treatment contracts with Water and Wetlands at Commissioners Bog and a cranberry property.