For the purpose of this article, the words and phrases used
herein shall have the following meanings except in those instances
where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Vehicles of the Fire Department (Fire Patrol), police vehicles,
ambulances and emergency vehicles of federal, state or municipal departments.
FUNERAL
Any procession of mourners properly identified as such accompanying
the remains of a human body.
LANE
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient
width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
OFFICER
Any officer, any investigator, examiner or inspector of the
Registry of Motor Vehicles, any constable or special officer, provided
he has his badge of office displayed over his left breast and upon
his outer garment.
OFFICIAL CURB MARKING
That portion of a curbing the painting of which has been
authorized by the Chief of Police and which has the written approval
of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
OFFICIAL STREET MARKING
Any painted line, legend, marking or marker of any description
painted or placed upon any way which purports to direct or regulate
traffic and which has been authorized by the Chief of Police and which
has the written approval of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGN
All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not
inconsistent with this article and which conform to the standards
prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and placed or erected by authority of a public body
or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of guiding, directing,
warning, or regulating traffic.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL
All signals conforming to the standards as prescribed by
the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
not inconsistent with this article, placed or erected by authority
of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of
directing or warning traffic.
PARKING
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
loading or unloading, or in obedience to an officer or traffic signs
or signals, or while making emergency repairs or, if disabled, while
arrangements are being made to move such vehicle.
PEDESTRIAN
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human
power, except bicycles or tricycles.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street or highway between the regularly
established curblines or that part, exclusive of shoulder, improved
and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.
SAFETY ZONE
Any area of space set aside within a roadway for the exclusive
use of pedestrians and which has been indicated by signs, lines or
markings, having the written approval of the Department of Public
Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SERVICE ZONE
An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of
commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the
prolongation or connection of curblines and property lines at intersections
or at any portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing
by lines on the road surface or by other markings or signs.
STREET or HIGHWAY
The entire width between property lines of every way open
to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
TRAFFIC
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars
or other conveyances either single or together while using any street
or highway for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL AREA
Any area along any way, other than an intersecting way, at
which drivers are to be controlled by traffic control signals.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL
Any device using colored lights which conforms to the standards
as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated,
by which traffic may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
TRAFFIC ISLAND
Any area or space set aside, within a roadway, which is not
intended for use by vehicular traffic.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, except
devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails
or tracks.
[Adopted January 1980; amended November 1987; January 1989]
This article applies to all construction within or connection
to a Town way, including streets (defined below) and driveways (defined
below), and to any other alterations of land or existing streets or
driveways that can affect the usability and safety of a roadway.
A. No one shall connect to the roadway of an existing street in the
Town of Harvard or begin any excavation, construction or alteration
of a street or of land adjacent thereto, including alteration of an
existing street or driveway, without first obtaining a permit from
the Board of Selectmen, the issuance of which shall be solely by the
Board of Selectmen having due regard for public safety and convenience,
drainage and access. The application for such permit shall include
a dimensional plan in conformance with this article, also giving distances
from landmarks to locus, and a statement of the precautions to be
taken to protect the public safety while the work is in process and
shall be supplemented by such studies, including but not limited to
traffic and environmental, as may be required by the Board of Selectmen.
B. The applicant for a permit shall complete the application with required
plans and dimensions and bring it to the Driveway Inspector, who will
inspect the site and add his written recommendations. The applicant
will then sign the application and all attachments before his application
is considered and shall further furnish such studies as are required
by the Board of Selectmen prior to final action on the application.
C. Work after the granting of a permit by the Board of Selectmen shall
be carried out under the supervision and inspection of the Driveway
Inspector. The work will not be complete until final written approval
by the Board of Selectmen, without which the permit shall not be valid
and shall constitute a violation.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALTERATION
A change in any respect from the plans submitted to the Board
of Selectmen for approval under this article or to an existing driveway,
including specifically, but not limited to, a change in the surface
of a driveway.
DRIVEWAY
An improved access for regular use by vehicles from the roadway
of a street to a lot of land for any purpose.
DRIVEWAY INSPECTOR
The person designated by proper authority to review and inspect
applications.
FLARE WIDTH
Width of driveway measured one foot back from the edge of
the roadway.
ROADWAY
The portion of the street intended for vehicular travel;
the traveled way.
STREET
The entire right-of-way for a way, including all related
easements, except for the connection of a new street to an existing
street which shall be from the roadway of the existing street.
Any and all surface water runoff or erosion from a lot onto
a street or driveway shall be retained within the boundaries of the
lot which the street or driveway serves and shall not under any circumstances
enter onto the street or roadway unless it is directly into an existing
street storm drain at the applicant's expense if such drain is capable
of handling the discharge. The street or driveway installation shall
include such drainage as is required to comply with this provision
and further preserve the integrity of the street or driveway and shall
generally conform to the Rules and Regulations of the Harvard Planning
Board Relative to Subdivision Control.
This article and rules and regulations thereunder shall be enforced
by the Board of Selectmen acting through the Highway Superintendent,
who shall take appropriate action in the name of the Town of Harvard
to prevent, correct, restrain, or abate violations of this article.
Each day any violation continues is a separate offense, and each offense
is subject to a fine not exceeding $50.
Each and every application for construction within or connection
to a Town way shall be accompanied by an application fee of $50.