A. 
Location.
(1) 
All streets in the subdivision shall be designed so that, in the opinion of the Beverly Planning Board, they will provide safe vehicular travel; natural drainage with no drainage pockets; and an attractive street layout in order to obtain the maximum safety and amenity for future residents of the subdivision; and they shall be in accord with the rules and regulations of the Beverly Planning Board.
(2) 
The proposed streets shall conform in location, so far as practicable, to any existing plans of the Beverly Planning Board; to the Comprehensive Plan or parts thereof adopted by the Beverly Planning Board; and, where required by the Beverly Planning Board, to the existing street system.
(3) 
Provision satisfactory to the Beverly Planning Board shall be made for the proper projection of streets or for access to adjoining property, whether or not subdivided. To accomplish this, the Board may require a roadway easement and the extension of utilities from the end of a turnaround to adjacent property. If the Board requires such an easement and/or utility extension, language conveying the easement and/or utilities to the City of Beverly in perpetuity shall be submitted to the Board prior to final action on the application.
(4) 
Reserve strips prohibiting access to streets or adjoining property shall not be permitted except where, in the opinion of the Beverly Planning Board, such strips shall be in the public interest.
B. 
Alignment.
(1) 
Street jogs with center-line offsets of less than 125 feet shall be avoided.
(2) 
The minimum center-line radii of curved streets shall be 300 feet.
(3) 
A tangent at least 150 feet in length shall separate all reverse curves on principal and secondary streets.
(4) 
Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles. No street shall intersect any other street at less than 60°.
(5) 
Property lines at street intersections shall be rounded or cut back to provide for a radius of not less than 30 feet. However, when the intersection of two streets varies more than 10° from a right angle, the radius of the curve at the obtuse angle may be less than 30 feet and the acute angle may be greater than 30 feet to the extent approved or required by the Beverly Planning Board.
C. 
Width. The minimum width of the right-of-way shall be 50 feet, and the minimum pavement width shall be 32 feet, except for minor streets (see § 375-15.).
D. 
Grade.
(1) 
The center-line grade for any street shall not be less than 1%.
(2) 
The maximum center-line grade for streets shall be as follows:
(a) 
Secondary streets: 6%.
(b) 
Principal streets: 3%.
(3) 
Where changes in grade exceed 1%, vertical curves as required by the Board will be provided; and where a grade is 5% or greater within 150 feet of the intersection of street right-of-way lines, there shall be provided in a residential subdivision a leveling area of at least 75 feet in length, with a maximum grade of 3%, and in all other subdivisions, a leveling area of at least 200 feet in length, with a maximum grade of 2%, and at all other intersections there shall be a leveling area of at least 50 feet in length.
E. 
Dead-end streets.
(1) 
For the purpose of this section, any proposed street which intersects solely with a dead-end street shall be deemed to be an extension of the dead-end street. Dead-end streets and their extensions, if any, shall not be longer than 500 feet (measured between the sideline of the intersecting street and the center of the turnaround) unless, in the opinion of the Board, a greater length is necessitated by topography or other local conditions.
(2) 
Dead-end streets shall be provided with a turnaround at the closed end having an outside roadway diameter of at least 100 feet and a property line diameter of at least 120 feet unless otherwise specified by the Beverly Planning Board. The Beverly Planning Board may, when potential volume warrants, require a minimum outside roadway diameter of 140 feet, a property line diameter of 160 feet and the placement of a circular landscaped island with minimum radius of 20 feet at the center of the turnaround, if the dead-end street is not intended to connect with another street at some future point in time. The maximum grade within any cul-de-sac shall be 2%. The Board may require a roadway easement and the extension of utilities from the end of the turnaround to adjacent property. If the Board requires such an easement and/or utility extension, language conveying the easement and/or utilities to the City of Beverly in perpetuity shall be submitted to the Board prior to final action on the application.
A minor subdivision is a private street which, in the opinion of the Beverly Planning Board, may be built to a less exacting standard than otherwise described in these rules and regulations, provided the following are met:
A. 
Such minor street serves as legal frontage for, or actual access to, not more than six lots.
B. 
Such minor street shall be no longer than 250 feet. If there is a cul-de-sac, the minor street may be up to 250 feet long from the intersection of a street to the beginning of the cul-de-sac.
C. 
There will be a covenant concerning the minor street which shall state that such minor street shall remain a private way unless it is both redesigned and improved in accordance with the minimum standards for streets by the owner or owners. In the event water or sewer lines are installed in a minor street, the covenant shall provide that the owner or owners of the minor street shall be solely responsible for the maintenance of the water and sewer installation. The owners of land abutting on a minor street shall maintain and plow said private minor street at their own expense. This covenant shall be referenced and noted on individual plot plans.
D. 
Such minor street shall have no connection with, or projection to any street existing or proposed, other than that with which it originates.
E. 
The design of the minor street shall be as follows:
(1) 
Curbs, sidewalks, and street trees are only mandatory in exceptional circumstances.
(2) 
Pavement will be a minimum of 24 feet wide.
(3) 
For dead ends, there shall be culs-de-sac or other turning designs acceptable to the Planning Board. Culs-de-sac shall be with a minimum right-of-way diameter of 100 feet and may have a thirty-six-foot diameter island; pavement shall be a minimum of 84 feet.
(4) 
The minor street shall be posted as a private way at its entrance or entrances.
(5) 
Pavement design and geometrics shall be the same as for a street except as noted in Subsection E(1) through (4) above.
(6) 
Submission and plan requirements for minor subdivisions shall be the same as for definitive subdivisions.
A. 
Driveways shall be at least 10 feet wide and have a curb return at the roadway of two feet in radius, and shall have an opening of at least 16 feet and no greater than 25 feet at the gutter line.
B. 
If driveways slope from the edge of the street right-of-way to the edge of the pavement, there shall be a grade of not less than 1% but not more than 8%, but the grade between the sidewalk and the right-of-way shall be only as shown on the typical cross section. (See the typical street cross-section diagram included as an attachment to this chapter.)
A. 
Where utilities cross lots or are centered on rear or side lot lines, easements shall be provided with a width of at least 20 feet.
B. 
Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream, the Beverly Planning Board shall require a stormwater easement or drainage right-of-way of adequate width (a minimum of 30 feet) and proper side slope to conform substantially to the lines of such watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream and to provide for construction or other necessary purpose.
C. 
Access easements to park and conservation land shall be provided, if required by the Beverly Planning Board, and shall be at least 20 feet wide.
A. 
Before approval of a plan, the Beverly 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 Beverly Planning Board may, by appropriate endorsement on the plan, require that no building be erected upon such park or parks without its approval for a period of three years. Pedestrian ways, bikeways, or bridle paths of not less than 20 feet in width may be requested where deemed desirable to provide circulation or access to schools, playgrounds, parks, shops, transportation, open spaces and/or community facilities. Each area reserved for such purpose shall be of suitable area, dimensions, topography and natural character for the purpose of a park and/or playground. The area or areas shall be so located as to serve adequately all parts of the subdivision as approved by the Beverly Planning Board.
B. 
The Beverly Planning Board may require that the area or areas reserved shall be located and laid out so as to be used in conjunction with similar areas of adjoining subdivisions or of probable subdivisions. Any land so reserved shall be graded to dispose properly of surface water and shall be left in good condition for the purpose intended, as required by the Beverly Planning Board. Land acquired in this manner shall be compensated as provided in MGL c. 41, § 81Q.
Due regard shall be shown for all natural and historic features, such as trees, wooded areas, watercourses, scenic points, historic spots, historic buildings, and similar community assets, which, if preserved, will add attractiveness and value to the subdivision.
A. 
Lots shall be prepared and graded in such a manner that development of one shall not cause detrimental drainage on another; if provision is necessary to carry drainage to or across a lot, an easement for drainage of minimum width of 30 feet and proper slope shall be provided. Storm drainage shall be designed in accord with the criteria of the Department of Public Services and in accordance with the Beverly Planning Board.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code.
B. 
Where required by the Beverly Planning Board or the Board of Health, the applicant shall furnish evidence as to any lot or lots that adequate provision has been made for the proper drainage of surface water and underground waters from such lot or lots.
C. 
Drawings and engineering calculations shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer showing existing and future drainage patterns and soil and groundwater conditions.
Hydrants shall be provided at intervals of at least every 500 running feet on one side of each street. A hydrant may be required at the end of a dead-end street. They shall be of a style approved by the Water Department. All hydrants shall be sited within three feet of the curb, and the four-and-one-half-inch outlet shall be 18 inches from the ground at finished grade.
A. 
See the typical street cross-section diagram included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
At the discretion of the Beverly Planning Board, guard rails or fencing shall be required to be installed where steep slopes, bodies of water, rip rap, or other dangerous conditions border or exist close to proposed sidewalks or streets.
All utilities shall be placed underground at the time of initial construction, including electric and telephone.