i Acknowledgements Hanover 300 was a three-year collaborative effort to identify a community vision and create a long-term, comprehensive strategic plan for the Town of Hanover. The plan was made possible with funding from the Town of Hanover and MAPC. The Town would like to thank all Hanover citizens who participated in the process and acknowledge the Master Plan Committee members, who volunteered countless hours of time and energy to help create this plan: Emmanuel Dockter, Chairman Gabrielle Mahoney Deborah Bastable Carol Mattes Ken Blanchard Thomas Raab, Vice Chairman Tom Burke Joan Port-Farwell Mary Dunn Robin McLaughlin Wally Kemp Hanover Planning Department: Peter Matchak Michaela Shoemaker Planning and technical assistance was provided by staff from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council: Ralph Willmer, FAICP, Principal Planner and Project Manager Christine Madore, Regional Planner I and Project Manager* Emma Schnur, Regional Land Use Planner Josh Eichen, Senior Economic Development Planner Manisha Gadia Bewtra, Analytical Services Manager* Kasia Hart, Transportation Policy Associate Mark Racicot, Land Use Planning Director Megan Aki, Clean Energy Analyst Eliza Wallace, GIS Analyst* *former MAPC staff To learn more about MAPC, go to www.mapc.org ii Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Hanover Today 3 3. Housing 13 4. Economic Development 27 5. Transportation & Circulation 45 6. Public Services & Facilities 60 7. Open Space & Recreation 94 8. Historic & Cultural Resources 118 9. Clean Energy 133 10. Land Use & Zoning 146 11. Implementation 156 12. Appendix 186 Introduction business owners, and Town boards and committees talked to each other, listened to each other, and brought their 1. Introduction visions for the town into alignment to achieve a set of shared goals. What is a master plan? Hanover 300 is the comprehensive master plan prepared Public Input by the Town of Hanover with the support of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council under the direction of Public input is a critical component of a master planning the Hanover Master Plan Committee and the Planning process in any community. During the course of the Department. The master plan includes a strategic Hanover 300 process, residents of all ages, business owners, framework to guide the future physical and economic elected and appointed representatives, and others were development within the Town of Hanover over the next 10 invited to weigh in on important issues facing our great years. Hanover 300 is an action plan for positive change town. There were many ways citizens participated: three within the community. It provides: public forums were held at the Hanover Town Hall; a project website at Hanover300.mapc.org; pop-ups at the • A town vision based on community input and Senior Center and Forge Pond Park; social media; drop-in priorities; interviews with business owners; and Master Plan • strategies and actions to improve livability, Committee members and MAPC planners were present at opportunity, and sustainability; Hanover Day. • a land use plan to guide physical development in town; This input, along with existing conditions findings, were • an implementation strategy to effectively achieve synthesized by the Master Plan Committee with assistance plan goals; and from MAPC, then developed into a set of draft goals, • predictability for residents, businesses, and strategies and actions for each master plan element, with developers, and elected officials. an implementation strategy for each. Developing a master plan is more than just researching After considerable input, the plan was finalized and and writing a report. It is an open, public process through approved by the Planning Board. Hanover 300 will serve as which the people of Hanover decide future priorities to the guiding planning document for the Town of Hanover guide growth and development over the next decade. It over the next 10 years. was also an opportunity through which town residents and 1 Introduction Implementing the Plan The purpose of a plan is to prepare for action. Hanover 300 includes a detailed implementation plan setting out the what, how, who, and when for specific actions to achieve the goals of the plan. The Hanover Planning Board will serve as the stewards of the plan, advising town boards, committees, and other stakeholders on implementation as well as monitoring progress. 2 Hanover Today traverse Hanover in an east-west direction and also Hanover Today provide an assortment of business and professional establishments. The Hanover Today chapter takes a snapshot of Hanover’s existing demographic trends within a regional and The nearest access to Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority statewide context. Understanding these trends will provide (MBTA) commuter rail is the Abington station, a baseline that informs the town and its residents on how approximately 10 minutes by car from Hanover. The to proactively plan for a community that will benefit all of Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway (known locally as the P its members. & B Bus) provides weekday service from Rockland to the South Station, with a park-and-ride stop in Rockland. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) also offers regional transportation services. Planning Context Local Governance and Services Location and Access The Town of Hanover’s executive branch is made up of a five-member Board of Selectmen along with a Town The Town of Hanover, Massachusetts is a primarily Manager. The executive powers of the town—with the residential community located about 25 miles southwest of exception of the powers granted to the Town Manager— Boston within Plymouth County. It is bordered by the Town are vested in the Board of Selectmen. Each Selectman is of Norwell to the northeast, Hanson and Pembroke to the elected for a term of three years. The Board is responsible south, and Rockland to the west. Compared to other for appointing the Town Manager as well as citizens to fill communities in Plymouth County, Hanover is one of the positions on Town commissions and committees. smaller towns with a total area of 15.7 square miles (the largest is Brockton with 1,093 square miles). The Town Manager also serves a term of three years, though he or she may be appointed for successive terms Hanover is regionally accessible via State highway routes of office. This position was established by Town Charter, 53, 123, and 139, all of which transect the town. Route 3, a Chapter 67 of the Acts of 2009. The Town Manager is the limited-access highway, provides convenient access to chief executive officer of Hanover and is charged with both the Boston metropolitan area and Cape Cod. overall operation of the Town. He or she is supervised by Running four miles north and south between Norwell and the Board of Selectmen for the effective management of Pembroke, Route 53 was once the major route to Cape Town affairs and is charged with implementing the Town Cod and today continues to be the main commercial policies established by the Board. thoroughfare for the town. Routes 123 and 139 both 3 Hanover Today Figure 1: Regional Context Map 4 Hanover Today The Town Manager has the authority to appoint or remove non-elected department heads and Town employees, with the exception of the School Department. In addition to supervising day-to-day operations and facilities in Hanover, the Town Manager prepares the town’s budget, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and acts as the chief procurement officer. Figure 2: Town Organization Chart1 1 Town of Hanover FY2017 Annual Budget 5 Hanover Today Like many other communities in the Commonwealth, Evidence of Hanover’s first settlers are dated as early as Hanover has an annual Town Meeting in the first week of the mid-1600s. William Barstow is among Hanover’s first May of each year. Special Town Meetings during other settlers in 1649. Barstow is credited with constructing the months of the year may also be called. Town Meeting first bridge across the North River, which runs along the represents the legislative branch of Hanover’s government southern limits of Hanover into Norwell, Marshfield, and where all registered voter residents vote on the budget Scituate before emptying into Massachusetts Bay. Prior to and other articles in the warrant. The Town Clerk maintains the arrival of European settlers, the natural waterways of all town records and documents the votes and actions of Hanover served as fishing and hunting grounds for local the Town Meeting. The Town Moderator directs the Native Americans. progress of the meeting and appoints the Town’s Advisory Committee, a group of nine registered voters in the town Like most towns in New England, Hanover’s early who help balance the budget and review all articles in the economies were anchored by agriculture and lumbering, warrant. later expanding into industrialized sectors, specifically shipbuilding and manufacturing along the North River. By Both the Town Clerk and Town Moderator are elected. the end of the 19th century, many of the town’s farmers Other elected officials in Hanover include members of the were employed in shoe factories or the Clapp Rubber Mill. Board of Assessors, School Committee, Board of Health, Hanover’s population in 1900 grew to 2,152. The largest Trustees of the Public Library, Planning Board, and employer at the beginning of the 20th century was the Affordable Housing Trust. Elected members of the School National Fireworks Factory. Though many residents of Committee are responsible for the educational needs of Hanover were employed in factories at this time, the Hanover’s children. The School Superintendent carries out majority of the workforce still consisted of subsistence the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the school farmers. The anchor and plow seen in the Town Seal system. recognizes the town’s agricultural roots and shipbuilding heritage. Historical Context Between 1864 and 1938, the Hanover Branch Railroad provided service from the Four Corners area, through The Town of Hanover was officially incorporated in 1727 South and then West Hanover, and eventually on to with a population of approximately 300 people.