All subdivisions shall be designed and laid out to meet the
requirements of public safety, including precautions against possible
natural disasters, of traffic safety and convenience, of adequate
storm water drainage and sewage disposal, and with due regard for
the rights, health and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Swansea,
including the future residents of the proposed subdivision. Subdivision
design shall adhere to the principles of correct land use, sound planning
and good engineering.
A. The proposed streets shall conform to any Master or Study Plan or
any part thereof adopted in whole or in part by the Planning Board.
B. If adjoining property is not subdivided but is, in the opinion of
the planning board, suitable for ultimate development, provision shall
be required for proper projection of streets into such property by
continuing appropriate streets within the subdivision to the exterior
boundary thereof.
C. Reserve strips prohibiting access to streets or adjoining property
shall not be permitted, except where, in the opinion of the Planning
Board, such strips will be in the public interests.
D. 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°.
E. Street lines at all intersections shall be rounded with a curve at
each corner having a radius of not less than 25 feet. However, when
the intersection of two streets varies more than 10° from a right
angle, the radius of the curve at the acute angle may be greater than
25 feet to extent approved or required by the Planning Board.
F. A leveling area shall be provided having a -1% grade for a distance
of 50 feet measured from the nearest exterior line of the intersecting
street, to the point of vertical curvature.
G. Streets in a subdivision shall connect and be accessible for a public
way or a private way both of which must be deemed adequate in the
opinion of the Planning Board to provide access. If the streets in
the subdivision connect to a private way, the applicant must have
the proper rights to a private way. The Planning Board shall be satisfied
that adequate access for emergency vehicles is provided to all of
the lots within the subdivision.
H. Three way intersections, especially within the subdivision, will
be encouraged in order to slow traffic and minimize the possibility
of collisions. Four-way intersections are to be avoided. Street jogs
shall have minimum centerline offsets from the larger classified street
as shown in table 1.
I. Where in the opinion of the Planning Board through streets are not
needed for a safe and convenient circulation pattern, dead-end streets
may be used, but the total length of a dead-end street shall be such
as to provide minimum street frontage for not more than a total of
12 lots meeting the frontage requirements of the Swansea Zoning Bylaw. The Board may waive this limitation where in the Board's
opinion greater length is justified by topography or other local conditions.
J. All streets
shall be crowned at the centerline to prevent sheeting across the
roadway.
[Added 6-6-2022]
All dead-end streets shall be provided with a turnaround at
the closed end. Dead-end streets shall be at least 50 feet in length
before a turnaround. A dead-end street shall have a circular turnaround
at its terminus with a minimum right of way radius of 50 feet and
its minimum outside pavement radius of 40 feet.
The area beyond the curb or sidewalk shall be graded in accordance
with the typical cross section, loamed and seeded. Hydrants, lights and street signs shall
be placed at least five feet beyond the edge of the curbing so that
an obstacle-free shoulder of five feet is provided along the entire
roadway.
Guardrails shall be required by the Planning Board where, in
the opinion of the Planning Board, there are hazards such as drop-offs,
steep grades (greater than 50%), or water bodies beyond the shoulder.
Permanent street signs with the approved street name as shown
on the Definitive Plan shall be installed at every intersection in
accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Streets
will be labeled as "Private Way" until it has been accepted by the
Town. Any other signs required by the Planning Board, such as "Keep
Right", or "One Way" shall also be installed. Temporary street signs,
meeting the approval of the Planning Board, for material, size and
location, may be utilized until construction permits final installation.
6" x 6" Reinforced concrete or granite bounds not less than
four feet in length, shall be set on the exterior street lines at
all angle points, at the beginning and end of all curves, and at all
intersections. Such bounds shall be set with their tops flush with
the finish grade, unless the Planning Board directs otherwise.
Hydrants shall be installed not more than 500 feet apart and
as close to the dividing lot lines as possible. Proposed location
shall be submitted to the Fire Chief for his approval.