Streets and ways shown on the subdivision plan or plan for more than one building for dwelling purposes per lot must comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Location and alignment.
(1) 
All streets and ways shall be designed so that, in the opinion of the Planning Board, they will provide safe vehicular travel. Due consideration shall also be given by the subdivider to the attractiveness and design of the street layout in order to obtain the maximum livability and amenity of the subdivision. As far as practicable, streets should follow natural contours.
(2) 
The proposed streets shall conform, so far as practicable, to the Master Plan as adopted in whole or in part by the Planning Board.
(3) 
Provision shall be made, to the satisfaction of the Planning Board, for the proper projection of streets, or for access to adjoining property which is not yet subdivided or developed.
(4) 
Reserve strips prohibiting access to streets or adjoining property shall not be permitted, except where, in the opinion of the Board, such strips shall be in the public interest.
(5) 
Streets and ways shall be continuous and in alignment with existing streets, as far as practicable, to ensure free and safe movement of vehicular traffic. Where a subdivision borders an existing but inadequately constructed public street, the subdivider will be required to improve the street bordering the subdivision tract or provide the land necessary for future improvements for that portion bordering the subdivision. The center line of a new road running parallel to an existing road shall be a minimum of 450 feet from the center line of an existing road.
(6) 
Temporary dead-end or cul-de-sac streets shall conform to the provisions of alignment, width, and grade that would be applicable to such streets if extended.
(7) 
In all instances, the paved roadway, sidewalks, grass strips and curbings shall be required as shown on the Typical Street Cross-Section drawing (see appendix[1]).
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendixes are available in the Town offices and on the Town website: www.southhadley.org.
(8) 
The vertical alignment at grade changes or minimum stopping sight distance at 3.5 feet above the pavement shall be 200 feet.
B. 
Width.
(1) 
The minimum widths of street rights-of-way and paved roadways (traveled way) shall be:
(a) 
Type "A" subdivisions. (Note: See Article II for definitions of subdivision types.)
[1] 
Right-of-way width: 50 feet.
[2] 
Paved roadway width: 24 feet to 32 feet.
(b) 
Type "B" subdivisions. (Note: See Article II for definitions of subdivision types.)
[1] 
Right-of-way width: 60 feet.
[2] 
Paved roadway width: 28 feet to 36 feet.
(2) 
The paved roadway width shall be measured from front to front of berms. All berms shall be set on the roadway pavement.
(3) 
The center line of the roadway shall coincide with the center line of the right-of-way, unless otherwise approved by the Board.
(4) 
Greater widths may be required by the Planning Board when deemed necessary for present and future vehicular traffic.
C. 
Grades. The minimum grades of all streets and ways shall be:
(1) 
Type "A" subdivisions.
(a) 
No grade shall be greater than 9%.
(b) 
No grade shall be less than 0.5%.
(2) 
Type "B" subdivisions.
(a) 
No grade shall be greater than 6%.
(b) 
No grade shall be less than 0.5%.
D. 
Horizontal alignment. The minimum center-line radii of horizontal street curves shall be:
(1) 
Type "A" subdivisions: 100 feet.
(2) 
Type "B" subdivisions: 300 feet.
E. 
Intersections.
(1) 
Streets and ways shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles. In no case shall street and way intersections be less than 60°.
(2) 
Street and way lines at all intersections shall be rounded with a curve at each corner which has a radius of not less than 30 feet. When the intersection of two streets varies more than 10° from a right angle, the radius of the curve at the obtuse angle may be less, and at the acute angle shall be greater than 30 feet.
(3) 
Intersections of streets and ways shall have center-line offsets of not less than 200 feet.
(4) 
On any street where the grade exceeds 6% on the approach of the intersection, a leveling area with a slope of less than 1% shall be provided for a distance of not less than 50 feet measured from the nearest exterior line of the intersecting street.
F. 
Cul-de-sac or dead-end street.
(1) 
A permanent cul-de-sac or dead-end street shall be no longer than 800 feet in length unless, in the opinion of the Planning Board, a greater length is necessitated by topography or other local conditions.
(2) 
Permanent cul-de-sac streets shall be provided with a turnaround at the end of the street having a minimum curb radius of 50 feet and a property line radius of at least 55 feet.
(3) 
In lieu of paving the entire area of the turnaround, a permanent cul-de-sac turnaround meeting the dimensional design standards as in Subsection F(2) above may be designed or required by the Planning Board to have a pavement width of 24 feet to 32 feet, beginning at the inner circle, graded, seeded and/or appropriately planted with acceptable trees or shrubs, provided there is proper assurance such as a deed covenant stating that lot owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance, and that maintenance of such planted areas will not be the responsibility of the Town.
(4) 
Design of a turnaround is, in some situations, optional depending on topographical conditions and natural features, but must by acceptable and approved by the Planning Board and Town Engineer. The "Y" or "T" backarounds may be used on temporary or short cul-de-sac streets, or those with steep slopes, but should not be used on streets greater in length than 400 feet.
(5) 
A temporary cul-de-sac shall be allowed only where, in the opinion of the Planning Board, it is essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision and where it is part of the street or way that eventually will be extended into adjoining property. The design of a temporary turnaround shall be satisfactory to the Planning Board, and clearly shown on the plan as temporary in nature, and such property lines shall be those which would normally have been required or used without the turnaround. Layout of the turnaround beyond the normal street right-of-way lines shall be in the form of an easement to the Town of South Hadley covering said premises included in the turnaround. When the street is extended into adjoining property, the easement shall become null and void.
A. 
Easements for utilities across lots or centered on rear or side lot lines shall be provided where necessary and shall be at least 25 feet in width, except that wider easements may be required by the Board where deemed necessary.
B. 
Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainage way, channel or stream, the Planning Board may require that there be provided a stormwater easement or drainage right-of-way of adequate width to conform substantially to the lines of such watercourse, drainage way, channel or stream, and to provide for construction or other necessary purposes.
C. 
The subdivider shall cause to be recorded in the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, by appropriate instrument (deed), any necessary easements in the name of the Town of South Hadley for utilities, watercourses or drainage channels, temporary turnarounds or other purpose, and to provide for the construction and installation of such utilities before the final bond is released. A copy of the appropriately executed instrument shall be submitted to the Planning Board after approval of the definitive plan, but before final endorsement.
A. 
Before approval of a plan, the Planning Board may also, in proper cases, require the plan to show a park or parks suitably located for playground or recreation purposes or for providing light and air. The park or parks shall not be unreasonable in area in relation to the land being subdivided and to the prospective uses of such land. The Planning Board may, by appropriate endorsement on the plan, require that no building be erected upon such park or parks for a period of not more than three years without its approval.
B. 
Due regard shall be shown for all natural features such as large trees, watercourses, scenic points, historic spots and similar community assets, which, if preserved, will add to the attractiveness and value of the subdivision and the Town.
No plan of a subdivision shall be approved unless all of the lots shown on the plan comply with the Zoning Bylaw.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 255, Zoning.
A. 
Any lots of abnormal configuration and size which are detrimental to the purposes and intent of the Subdivision Control Law shall not be allowed, even though they may meet the dimensional requirements of the Zoning Bylaw.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 255, Zoning.
B. 
Side lot lines should be substantially at a right angle to the street lines or to its tangent at point of intersection of the side lot line, but in no case shall the side lot line form an angle of less than 75° with the street line or its tangent at point of intersection.