Hanson Planning Board Targets Highway Facility Upgrade, Park Grant in 2026 Work Plan

HANSON — January 12, 2026 — Hanson Planning Board sets highway facility overhaul and High Street Park as top 2026 priorities. The four-member board, meeting January 12 without member Benonado, backed Town Planner Tony Amico's push to scope a highway department building replacement at between $3 million and $5 million, with Chair Kevin Daring calling the current facility long overdue for replacement and urging a combined highway-fire design. Amico disclosed he has applied for a $500,000 state land use and water conservation grant for the High Street Park project, with a state site walk set for February 18, while a delinquent park engineer faces a February 15 deadline to deliver design plans or face legal action from town counsel. The board voted 4-0 to continue the High Street Park public hearing to February 23. Amico also previewed a battery energy storage system bylaw amendment headed for May town meeting to comply with updated state DOER regulations, and signed two invoices totaling $15,262.50 for pedestrian improvement consultant Verdantis. Daring told the board he has begun talks with the town administrator about reclassifying Amico's position from town planner to town engineer ahead of town meeting.