Town of North Reading, MA Purpose and Authority

These subdivision regulations are adopted for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of North Reading 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 Community Planning Commission and of the Zoning Board of Appeals under 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 reducing danger of life and limb in the operation of motor vehicles; for securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic and other emergencies; for insuring compliance with the applicable Zoning Bylaws;[1] for securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, drainage, underground utility services, fire, police and other similar 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.

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 200, Zoning.

It is the intent of the Subdivision Control Law (under which these regulations are adopted) that any subdivision plan filed with the Community Planning Commission shall receive the approval of such Commission if said plan conforms to the recommendation of the Board of Health and to the reasonable rules and regulations of the Community Planning Commission pertaining to subdivisions of land; provided, however, that such Commission may, when appropriate, waive, as provided for in Section 81-R, such portions of the rules and regulations as is deemed advisable (Section 81-M of Chapter 41, G.L.).