Section 1000. Purpose and Authority

Subdivision Regulations Table of Contents
Section 1000 | Section 2000 | Section 3000 | Section 4000 | Section 5000

1100. Purpose

These subdivision rules and regulations are hereby enacted, in accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 41, s. 81M, for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience, and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town, by regulating the laying out and construction of ways in subdivisions providing access to the several lots therein, but which have not become public ways, and ensuring sanitary conditions in subdivisions and in proper cases parks and open areas. The powers of the Planning Board and of the Board of Appeals under these regulations and the subdivision control law shall be exercised with due regard for the provision of adequate access to all of the lots in a subdivision by ways that will be safe and convenient for travel; for lessening congestion in such ways and in the adjacent public ways; for securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic, and other emergencies; for insuring compliance with the Zoning By‑law, for securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, drainage, underground utility services, fire, police, and other municipal equipment, and street lighting and other requirements where necessary in a subdivision; and for coordinating the ways in a subdivision with each other and with the public ways in the town, and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions.

1200. Authority

These Rules have been adopted under the authority vested in the Planning Board by G.L. c. 41, s. 81Q, as amended. The Planning Board shall be the agency responsible for the administration of the Rules and shall have all of the powers assigned to it by G.L. c. 41, ss. 81K to 81GG, inclusive.