The town of Hudson, Que., northwest of Montreal, finally has an option to buy a long-disputed strip of forested land along the Ottawa River that includes Sandy Beach.

The shallow inlet has calm water for swimming, sand for sunbathing and it's a popular spot year-round for walking.

But for years, developers have eyed the scenic area, sparking battles that ended with public access cut off last summer.

That could change if the town's roughly 5,600 residents agree to buy the land and preserve it for t…