Hanson Planning Board Continues High Street Park Hearing Amid Abutter Concerns

HANSON — April 13, 2026 — Hanson Planning Board hears sharp abutter pushback on proposed High Street Park and continues the hearing to April 27. The board reviewed revised engineering plans from Lane Planning, dated February 11, 2026, that addressed a peer reviewer's comments on parking widths, drainage routing, stop signs, curbing details, and a scale correction on Sheet C3, with the town planner saying the revisions position the town to pursue grant funding if the board closes the hearing and issues a decision with conditions. Nearby resident Joe Dillon told the board he only learned of the project by letter the prior Friday, questioned who else on High Street had been notified, and said the plan would displace wildlife and burden taxpayers: "The town has no money, but yet we're going to spend it on something we don't need in the woods." Nick Papadopoulos of 176 High Street called the dog park "the most disruptive feature of the entire park" and asked the board to consider relocating it away from abutters. In separate business, the board voted 5-0 to authorize town counsel to respond to an Open Meeting Law complaint filed March 19 by Alan Diaz, endorsed a $342.80 invoice to Norwood Printing for updated MBTA overlay zoning maps, and was told the McQuan Playground article has been pulled from the spring town meeting warrant after full cost estimates came in at roughly $183,000 to $185,000 — nearly double the $90,000 originally sought — with the project now targeting October town meeting.