Hanson Planning Board Advances BESS Bylaw, Endorses Subdivision Consultant

HANSON -- February 9, 2026, Hanson Planning Board honored late member Don Ellis and advanced three zoning actions at its February 9 meeting. Town Planner Tony DeFraca presented a battery energy storage systems bylaw amendment, the third iteration since a 2023 article was rejected by the Attorney General, and the board voted 4-0 to forward it favorably to the Select Board for the May 6 town meeting warrant; Select Board member Mel, attending as a member of the public, said he did not want to see Tier 2 battery storage "in residential areas" but acknowledged state law limits a town's ability to deny such installations. The board also unanimously endorsed GPI, at a not-to-exceed cost of $22,950, over two competitors, VHB at $48,000 and Beals and Thomas at $25,500, to update the town's 2012 subdivision regulations, with an appropriation article headed to May town meeting. DeFraca separately outlined a two-pronged study of expanding business zones and tightening home-occupation bylaw language to address a growing number of full-scale businesses operating in residential zones under special permits.