Town of Charlton, MA Purpose and Authority

These Subdivision Rules and Regulations are adopted under the provisions of MGL c. 41, §§ 81K through 81GG (the Subdivision Control Law) for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Charlton "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 a Planning Board and of a board of appeal 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 to 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 ordinances or by-laws; 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 way in the city or town in which it is located and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions. "(MGL c. 41, § 81M) In addition, these Subdivision Rules and Regulations are adopted to protect aquifers and natural resources, and otherwise to safeguard the environment from nuisance and pollution of whatever nature. The powers of the Planning Board and of the Board of Appeals under the Subdivision Control Law may also be exercised with due regard for the policy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to encourage the use of solar energy and to protect the access to direct sunlight of solar energy systems.