A. 
Basic requirements.
(1) 
All roads, pedestrian paths and bicycle paths in the subdivision shall be designed so that, in the opinion of the Planning Board, they will provide safe vehicular and pedestrian travel. Due consideration shall also be given by the subdivider to the attractiveness of the road layout in order to maximize the livability and amenity of the subdivision. Roadway design appropriate to the site and compatible with the character of the neighboring roadways is encouraged. All roads should follow the existing contours to the fullest extent possible. Design shall minimize cut and fill. A system of paths for pedestrians and/or bicycles that may not necessarily follow the road layouts is encouraged as a means of increasing safety and enjoyment.
(2) 
The specific criteria for design and construction of the roadways in the subdivision shall be determined by reference to the following. This determination is best made early in the design process by the applicant consulting with the Board with informal sketch plans and/or submission of a preliminary plan.
(a) 
Refer to zoning bylaws for maximum allowed lot density, frontage and yards.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 171, Zoning.
(b) 
Refer to applicable portions of the Town of Great Barrington Master Plan.
(c) 
For each road in the subdivision, determine the roadway type in Table 1.0[2] based on the number of lots served, through road or dead-end, and topography.
[2]
Editor's Note: Table 1.0 is included at the end of this subsection.
(d) 
Refer to Table 1.0 for subdivision roadway types.
(e) 
Refer to Table 1.1[3] for road design criteria.
[3]
Editor's Note: Table 1.1 is included at the end of this subsection.
(f) 
Refer to Article III for design requirements.
(g) 
Refer to Article IV for design standards.
(h) 
Consult with utility companies, Great Barrington DPW and emergency services departments regarding utilities and other local requirements and conditions.
Table 1.0
Subdivision Roadway Types
Roadway Type
[Average Daily Traffic (ADT)]
Road Description
Small Lane (Up to 50 ADT)
A small roadway that serves as frontage and access for a very-low-impact subdivision. The small lane is the lowest order of residential street with an intended speed limit of 10 mph to 20 mph. It may be a cul-de-sac or a small loop road. The small lane may not be used to connect to a future subdivision.
Minor Way (51 - 150 ADT)
A road that serves as frontage and access for a low-impact subdivision. Intended speed limit of 10 mph to 20 mph. Road construction shall meet the Town's design standards for acceptance as a public way.
Major Way (151 - 300 ADT)
A major way may be a loop road or a through road providing access to other ways within the subdivision, to a potential future subdivision, or to an established neighborhood. Intended speed limit is 25 MPH. Road construction shall meet the Town's design standards for acceptance as a public way.
Collector Road [300 or more residential ADT (or any commercial or industrial use)]
This is the highest order of roadway. It serves as a through road for the neighborhood. It may collect traffic from and distribute traffic to other adjoining residential streets. It may serve as the main entrance road for a large subdivision. A collector road should provide free and unobstructed flow for higher volumes of traffic reaching speeds of 30 mph to 40 mph. Road construction shall meet local and state design standards.
Table 1.1
Road Design Criteria
Requirement
Small Lane
Minor Way
Major Way
Collector Road
(residential and all commercial)
Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
0 to 50
51 to 150
151 to 300
300 or more
Right-of-way (minimum width) (feet)
40
40
50
50
Paved surface (minimum width) (feet
16
18
22
24
Maximum grade1
10%
10%
10%
8%
Shoulders2 (feet)
3 on both sides
3 on both sides
3 on both sides4
3 on both sides4
Maximum dead-end length (feet)
1,000
1,000
Not permitted
Not permitted
Dead-end configuration
cul-de-sac, or T-turnaround
Cul-de-sac
Not permitted
Not permitted
Sidewalk and Curb3
Not required
Not required
Mountable curbs and one sidewalk required4
Mountable curbs and sidewalks both sides4
Minimum curb radius (feet)
10
10
15
20
NOTES:
1 The Board may allow roadways to exceed the maximum grade by up to 2% for straight segments not exceeding 500 feet in length.
2 Compacted gravel base at least 12 inches deep.
3 Sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet wide and separated from the shoulder by a landscaped buffer at least three feet in width. Walking paths independent of the roadway system may be considered by the Planning Board in lieu of sidewalks.
4 At the Planning Board's discretion, either shoulders or mountable curbs and sidewalks shall be provided.
B. 
Roadway design and construction.
(1) 
Location and alignment.
(a) 
All roadways in the subdivision shall be designed and located to provide safe vehicular travel.
(b) 
If adjoining property is not subdivided, proper provision shall be made for extending roads to the adjoining property, except in the case of small lane subdivisions which may not be extended.
(c) 
Reserve strips prohibiting access to roads or adjoining property shall not be permitted except where, in the opinion of the Planning Board, such strips shall be in the public interest.
(d) 
Road intersections with center-line offsets of less than 125 feet should be avoided.
(e) 
The minimum center-line radius of curved roads shall be 100 feet. Greater radius may be required for collector roads.
(f) 
Roads shall be laid out to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles. No road shall intersect any other road at less than 60°.
C. 
Adequate access from public way.
(1) 
Where the road system within a subdivision does not connect with or, in the opinion of the Planning Board, does not have adequate access from a public way, the Board may require, as a condition of approval, that adequate access be provided by the subdivider and/or that the subdivider make physical improvements to and within such a way of access, in accordance with the provisions of Articles IV and V of these regulations, from the boundary of the subdivision to a public way.
(2) 
Where the physical condition or width of a public way providing access to a subdivision is considered by the Planning Board to be inadequate to carry the traffic expected to be generated by such subdivision, the Board may require the subdivider to dedicate a strip of land for the purpose of widening the abutting public way to a width at least commensurate with that required within the subdivision. The subdivider may be required by the Planning Board to make physical improvements to and within the public way to specifications acceptable to the governmental agency having jurisdiction. Dedication of land for the purpose of a way and any work performed within the public way shall be made only with permission of the governmental agency having jurisdiction over such way, and all costs of any widening or construction shall be borne by the subdivider.
(3) 
All roads in a PURD or OSRD development shall be considered subdivision roads and shall require a Form C[4] application to the Planning Board, as well as any other permits or special permits required under Town statutes.
[4]
Editor's Note: Form C is on file in the Town offices.
D. 
Width.
(1) 
Road right-of-way and the traveled way shall be in conformance with Table 1.1 of this section.
(2) 
The Planning Board may require greater widths when deemed necessary for present or future vehicular traffic.
(3) 
The minimum width of the right-of-way for pedestrian or bicycle paths shall be five feet. A greater width may be required by the Planning Board based on local conditions and present or future use.
E. 
Grade.
(1) 
Roadway finished grades shall be in conformance with Table 1.1.
(2) 
The grade of a side road intersecting a through road shall not exceed 2% for the first 25 feet to provide a level area for traffic safety. The grade of a through road intersected by a side road shall not exceed 8% for a distance of 25 feet in both directions from the projected center line of the side road.
(3) 
The grading of any right-of-way, except in special instances, shall be designed for surface runoff to flow away from the building line towards the road surface. Where one side of a subdivision road drops off so that surface water runoff cannot drain into the roadway, provision shall be shown for catch basins and/or other stormwater management devices, with any easement required, to prevent overflow onto neighboring lots or erosion of banks. There shall be a leveling area of at least 200 feet and a maximum grade of 2%.
(4) 
Where curves and grades combine to create potentially dangerous driving conditions, the Planning Board may require a higher curb or other protection.
(5) 
Road grades shall follow the existing contours as much as possible to minimize cut and fill.
(6) 
The grade of any road shall not exceed the maximum percentage grade specified in Table 1.1, except that, as approved by the Planning Board, portions of the road grade may be increased by as much as 2% in any straight five-hundred-foot segment.
F. 
Dead-end roads.
(1) 
Roadways, except where allowed under Table 1.1 of these regulations or as permitted below, shall be connected as through streets to a public way, or to other existing subdivision roads or those proposed for construction in the near future.
(2) 
Dead-end road alternatives. Where the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Planning Board that the frontage, configuration, topography or soils of the property preclude the feasibility of the roadway connecting to either a second road or to a substantially remote section of the same road, the applicant may propose alternative roadway designs to provide two means of access and egress, including by emergency vehicles. The Planning Board must be satisfied, in its discretion, that the proposed alternative would be in the best interest of the Town and would promote the health, safety, and welfare of the Town.
(3) 
A dead-end road shall not be longer than 1,000 feet measured from the intersection of another road, down the road's center line, around the cul-de-sac to the furthest point from the point of beginning. A T-turnaround, if allowed, shall be measured in a similar fashion to the farthest point along the road's center line.
(4) 
A dead-end road shall be provided at the closed end with a turnaround having an outside roadway diameter of at least 100 feet and a property line diameter of at least 115 feet.
(5) 
At the end of a dead-end road, the Planning Board may require the reservation of an easement 20 feet wide to provide for the continuation of pedestrian traffic and/or utilities.
(6) 
An island suitably landscaped with grass, ground cover and trees blending in with the surroundings shall be provided in the turnaround center and shall have a diameter of at least 46 feet.
(7) 
A T-turnaround (sometimes called a "hammerhead"), where allowed under Table 1.1, may be considered in lieu of a cul-de-sac, at the Planning Board's discretion, on shorter dead-end roads. No hammerhead may exceed 40 feet in length and must be contained within the right-of-way.
A. 
Easements for utilities across lots or centered on common rear or side lot lines shall be provided where necessary and shall be at least 12 feet wide.
B. 
Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream, the Planning Board shall 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, drainageway, channel or stream and to provide for present or future construction of stormwater management devices or other necessary purposes.
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, prohibit the erection of any buildings upon such park or parks without its prior, written approval.
A. 
Due regard shall be shown for historical and archaeological sites, and all natural features, such as large trees, watercourses, wildlife, scenic points, historic spots, stone walls or fences and similar community assets that will add attractiveness and value to the subdivision and preserve a Town asset. The subdivider shall make every attempt to adapt the subdivision to the site with a minimum of cutting and filling operations and shall take whatever protective measures are needed to control erosion, siltation and flooding along drainageways and adjacent lands.
B. 
Water Quality Protection District. The provisions of § 171-37.1 of the Zoning Code, when applicable, shall apply to subdivision applications made under these rules and regulations.