HANOVER – For two hours on Thursday night, six Hanover residents shared concerns and ideas about creating, stopping or shaping changes in their community with organizers behind the recently released Mahoosuc Region Resources Report.

Among the concerns raised were, land, pond and river access; the creation of trails connecting Hanover to Newry for hiking and snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles; noise pollution from Route 2 traffic and the need for a better highway; manufacturing jobs and good-paying jobs; how to better integrate seasonal residents; and the lack of affordable housing.

“Conservation is an important part, but we’re also trying to develop local economies,” Ginger Kelly of the Mahoosuc Land Trust said. “The Mahoosuc Initiative is not anti-development.”

The report, which bills itself as a platform for community dialogue, was funded by the Mahoosuc Initiative, a group of conservation-minded organizations seeking to play a leadership role in communities tied to the Mahoosuc Mountain Range region of Western Maine.

“Conservation is an important part of it, but we’re also aware of the fact that people need jobs,” said Fergus Lea of the Androscoggin River Watershed Council. “How can we capture the economic potential of our woods, but also for the public good?”

Hanover Selectman Bruce Powell suggested improving Route 2 and providing better truck transportation routes, although Selectman Brenda Gross said she didn’t want Route 2 improved much.

“If they turned Route 2 into a four-lane highway, I wouldn’t want it to go past my house,” she said.

“The more you make the highway better for large trucks, the more people like myself don’t want to travel out there,” longtime Hanover resident Henrietta List countered.

“I think we’ve got to live together. If we had a better train network, that would help with some of the things I’m concerned about,” Powell said.

Resident Jim List, one of the Mahoosuc Report authors, said he’d like to see more truck stops, motels and strip malls along Route 2. Powell agreed that good jobs are needed.

“The inability of our young people to get affordable housing, and it’s all tied to the lack of good jobs. I think we have to do whatever we can do, but keep in mind that we don’t want to North Conway-ize Hanover. But we do need to bring in jobs,” Powell said.

Other ideas included creating alternative energy businesses like solar and wind power, or skiing- and tourism-based industries and businesses.

“Tourism is fine, but manufacturing is important, too,” Powell added.