Hanson Planning Board declines to act on MBTA zoning overlay district proposal

HANSON -- August 25, 2025, Hanson Planning Board votes 4-1 to take no action on MBTA zoning overlay district, sending the matter back to the Select Board. The board held a lengthy public hearing Monday on the state-mandated multifamily housing overlay near the former Ocean Spray site north of the commuter rail station, with Town Administrator Lisa Green and Fire Chief David O'Brien detailing grant losses already tied to non-compliance, including a clawed-back $87,000 Green Communities grant and up to $90,000 in annual fire department equipment grants. Town Planner Tony Caggiano noted he applied for just under $900,000 in one-stop grants this fiscal year and warned that a $170,000 road infrastructure allocation linked to the millionaire's tax is also out of reach. Landowners Michael and Tyler Pereira appeared to ask whether adjacent parcels 19B and 23 could be incorporated into the overlay zone for future access, clarifying they have no plans to sell. The board separately voted 5-0 to advance a rewritten stormwater management bylaw, Article 3-21, to October Town Meeting, with Apex Engineering's presentation highlighting new developer maintenance obligations and performance standards that can now be updated without a full town meeting vote.