These rules and regulations of the Easton Planning and Zoning Board shall be known and may be cited as the "Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land, Town of Easton, Massachusetts" which herein are called these "Regulations."
A. 
This Chapter has been enacted for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience, and welfare of the public and the inhabitants of Easton by regulating the laying out and construction of ways providing access to lots in subdivisions that have not become public ways. The regulations shall also provide sanitary provisions for subdivisions and, in proper cases, parks and open spaces. The powers of the Planning and Zoning Board and of a Board of Appeals under the Subdivision Control Law shall be exercised with due regard for:
(1) 
The provision of adequate access to all of the lots in a subdivision by ways that will be safe and convenient for travel;
(2) 
Lessening congestion in such ways and in the adjacent public ways to prevent overcrowding of land;
(3) 
Reducing danger to life and limb in the operation of motor vehicles;
(4) 
Securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic, and other emergencies;
(5) 
Ensuring compliance with the Easton Zoning By Law;
(6) 
Securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, schools, transportation, parks, drainage, underground utility services, fire, police, street lighting, and other similar municipal equipment, and other requirements where necessary in a subdivision; and
(7) 
Coordinating the ways in a subdivision with each other and with the public ways in the Town and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions.
B. 
It is the intent of This Chapter that any subdivision plan filed with the Planning and Zoning Board shall receive the approval of such Board if said plan conforms to the recommendation of the Board of Health and to the reasonable Rules and Regulations of the Board pertaining to subdivisions of land; and provided, however, that such Board may, when appropriate, waive, as provided for in Section 9.1 such portions of these Regulations as is deemed advisable.
A. 
Adoption and Administration. Under the authority vested in the Board of the Town of Easton, Massachusetts, by MGL c. 41, § 81Q, the Board originally adopted these Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land in the Town of Easton on December 15, 1959.
(1) 
The Board shall be responsible for administration of these regulations and shall have all the powers assigned to it by MGL c. 41, §§ 81K-81GG.
(2) 
The Board, in conjunction with § 501-53 herein and at the cost of the applicant, may hire consultant engineers, construction inspectors, legal counsel, or other professional assistance and may assign as its Agents appropriate Town Agencies or officials to review plans and applications filed pursuant to these Regulations or to inspect the construction or installation of improvements requested hereunder.
(3) 
The Board may seek comment and review of applications by the Board of Health, the Department of Public Works, the Conservation Commission, or any other town agency or board. At the discretion of the Chair, the Board may request an All Boards Meeting for major projects.
(4) 
These Regulations will be administered in conjunction with the Planning & Zoning Board Administrative Rules & Regulations.
B. 
Interpretation. In interpreting these regulations the Board shall consider the general character of the Town of Easton, encourage coordination with the Comprehensive Plan of the Town (where applicable), and seek to mitigate the impacts of subdivision construction throughout the Town.
C. 
Severability. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or provision of these Regulations shall be adjudged not valid, the adjudication shall apply only to the material so adjudged and the remainder of these Regulations shall be deemed to remain valid and effective.
D. 
Invalidation by State Law. Any part of these Regulations subsequently invalidated by a new state law or modification of an existing state law shall automatically be brought into conformity with the new or amended law, and shall be deemed effective immediately without recourse to a public hearing and the customary procedures for amendment or repeal of such regulations.
E. 
Amendments.
(1) 
These Regulations or any portion thereof may be amended, supplemented, or repealed from time to time by the Planning & Zoning Board after a public hearing on its own motion or by petition. Amendments proposed by members of the public or other boards should be submitted in writing to the Department of Planning & Community Development, and addressed to the Board.
(2) 
These Regulations shall be reviewed for amendment by a Public Hearing in July of every year, unless an alternate date for review is voted on by the Board.
A. 
Forming a Subdivision. No person shall make a subdivision within the meaning of the Subdivision Control Law of any land within the Town, or proceed with the improvement or sale of lots in a subdivision, or the construction of ways, or the installation of municipal services therein, unless and until a Definitive Plan of such subdivision has been submitted to and approved by the Board as hereinafter provided.
B. 
Effect of Prior Recording of Subdivision Land. The recording of a plan of land within the Town in the Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds prior to the effective date of the Subdivision Control Law in the Town of Easton, showing the division thereof into existing or proposed lots, sites or other divisions and ways furnishing access thereto, shall not exempt such land from the application and operation of these rules, regulations and requirements except as specifically exempt by Section 81-FF of the Subdivision Control Law.
C. 
Applicant's Responsibility.
(1) 
The approval of a subdivision by the Board does not affect any rights others may have in or over the land to be subdivided nor does it give the applicant the right to perform work on land owned by others.
(2) 
The acquisition of necessary rights and the presentation of complete and correct information to the Board are responsibilities of the applicant and the failure to do so, including the failure or inability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses, releases or rights may constitute a reason for the disapproval, the rescission of approval of a subdivision plan or application of other laws.