These subdivision rules and regulations are hereby enacted,
in accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 41, § 81M,
for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience, and welfare
of the inhabitants of the Town of Sterling, 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[1] 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 Protective Bylaw,[2] for securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, drainage,
underground utility services, fire, police, and other municipal equipment,
and streetlighting 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.
These rules and regulations have been adopted under the authority
vested in the Planning Board of the Town of Sterling by G.L. c. 41,
§ 81Q, as amended. The Planning Board shall be the agency
responsible for the administration of the rules and regulations and
shall have all of the powers assigned to it by G.L. c. 41, §§ 81K
to 81GG, inclusive.
