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Town of Groveland, MA
Essex County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
It is the intent that no street through private property shall be accepted by the Town unless the street has been previously constructed and completed in accordance with the approved definitive subdivision plan and the following specifications.
B. 
To ensure high quality and uniformity of construction and unless otherwise specified, all the work and the materials used in the work to be done shall conform to the requirements of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Transportation, Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges, 1988 Edition, as amended; hereinafter referred to as the "Standard Specifications," and the special provisions included hereinafter. Appropriate illustrations are found in "Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Transportation, 1977 Construction Standards, as amended.
C. 
Supplementing the aforesaid Standard Specifications, certain specifications or special provisions shall apply particularly to the work to be done hereunder. These specifications and special provisions shall take precedence and shall govern when they are stricter.
(1) 
All references in the Standard Specifications, amendments or addenda to "Commission," "Department of Public Works," "Engineer," "Party of the First Part," etc., shall be construed to mean the Planning Board of the Town of Groveland or its duly authorized representative.
D. 
To facilitate reference where appropriate, each paragraph in this specification is noted with the paragraph number of the particular section as contained in the Standard Specifications.
E. 
The extent of work required shall be completed as shown upon the approved definitive subdivision plans.
F. 
Offset stakes shall be set under the direction of a professional land surveyor at fifty-foot intervals and at each drainage structure, sewer structure, and at each hydrant to indicate the location and the exact amount of cut, fill, or grade.
G. 
Improvements to minimize adverse environmental impact, if required, shall be installed in accordance with all details as shown on the approved definitive plan, and all possible measures shall be taken during construction to minimize erosion and tree removal.
H. 
No earth shall be removed from the area shown on a definitive plan except in accordance with the approved plan, and the Soil Removal Bylaw of the Town of Groveland.
I. 
Immediately prior to any clearing for street construction, the location of the pavement within the street dedication and the extent of clearing shall be approved by the Planning Board during a site visit. Under no circumstances shall the clearing for street construction exceed what is necessary to construct the street surface, shoulders, drainage ditches (if required), and cut and fill slopes. If the Planning Board authorizes the movement of the street's center line off the center line of the street dedication to save specific trees, the trees to be saved shall be prominently banded so that they may be observed during street construction.
J. 
At the time of placing the binder course, a driveway stub built to street specifications not less than 20 feet in length shall be installed on each lot.
A. 
General. The work to construct streets shall consist of clearing, grubbing, cutting, removal and disposal of all vegetation and debris from areas either within or outside the right-of-way as shown on the definitive plans or as designated by the Planning Board or its agent. The work shall also include the preservation from injury or defacement of all vegetation and objects designated by the Planning Board, or its agent, to remain.
B. 
Clearing and grubbing (Section 101 of the Standard Specifications). The paved area and shoulders of each street shall be cleared and grubbed to remove all trees not intended for preservation, stumps, brush, roots, rocks, or boulders and other unsuitable material which may exist upon the surface.
C. 
Excavation (Section 120 of the Standard Specifications). The entire area of the street shall be excavated to remove all materials encountered within the paved area and shoulders down to the true surface of the subgrade, or to suitable material in the areas where unsuitable materials exist, in preparation for foundations of streets, sidewalks, driveways, and curbing. Materials obtained from the excavation may be used in roadway fills as needed if they are sampled and tested by an independent testing laboratory acceptable to the Planning Board or its agent and, in the opinion of the Planning Board or its agent, the material satisfies the requirements of Section 150 of the Standard Specifications. Necessary laboratory testing to determine the suitability of the excavated soil shall be arranged for and paid for by the developer.
D. 
Embankment (Section 150 of the Standard Specifications). When, in the opinion of the Planning Board or its agent, suitable material is not available within the limits of the street location to form the subgrade or subbase, the developer shall obtain suitable additional material from other sources in accordance with this section, and as may be approved by the Planning Board or its agent. A certificate of compliance along with information on the source of the material being used shall be submitted to the Planning Board or its agent for approval prior to use.
E. 
Grading (Section 170 of the Standard Specifications). The subgrade surface, 21 inches below the finished surface grade in minor streets, and 22 1/2 inches below the finished surface grade in major streets, shall be prepared true to the lines, grades, and cross sections given and compacted with a vibratory roller to achieve 95% compaction. The prepared subgrade shall then be proof rolled with a combined weight of 70,000 pounds to determine that the subgrade does not contain weak or unsuitable soil. All soft or spongy material below the subgrade surface shall be removed to a depth determined by the Planning Board or its agent, and the space thus made shall be filled with suitable material conforming to Section M1.02.0 of the Standard Specifications. Material used shall contain no stones over six inches in their largest diameter, or any other material detrimental to the subgrade.
F. 
Subbase (Sections 401 and 402 of the Standard Specifications). Final compacted thickness for subbase materials shall be as follows: Subbase shall be 12 inches of gravel borrow, Type B (M1.03.0) overlaid by eight inches of processed gravel (M1.03.1). Gravel borrow material shall be placed in two six-inch courses on the prepared subgrade and each lift compacted to 95% of maximum dry density as determined by Standard AASHTO Test Designation T99 compaction test Method C at optimum moisture content. Depressions that appear during compaction rolling shall be filled with gravel borrow and re-rolled. The surface of the gravel borrow shall be graded to the street lines and grades in preparation for the placement of the processed gravel material.
(1) 
Processed gravel shall be placed in two four-inch compacted courses as required for the gravel borrow courses. Final grading, rolling and finishing, including the shaping, trimming, rolling, and finishing of the surface of the subbase prior to placement of the bituminous concrete pavement, shall be in accordance with the Standard Specifications and as directed by the Planning Board or its agent.
(2) 
Subbase shall extend two feet beyond the edge of the binder course, on each side of the roadway, for stabilization of the roadway shoulders.
G. 
Pavement. Street pavement shall be constructed for the full length of all streets within the subdivision. The center line of all streets shall coincide with the center line of the street right-of-way unless a deviation is approved by the Planning Board. The widths of the street and pavement shall be in accordance with the approved plan.
H. 
Pavement material. Pavement material for all streets in a subdivision shall be Class I, bituminous concrete pavement Type I-1 (Section 460). The material and construction methods for laying pavement shall conform in every way to the Standard Specifications, and no such construction shall be undertaken before March 30 of any year nor after November 1 of any year without written permission of the Planning Board, and shall be applied only in dry weather.
(1) 
Final compacted pavement thickness for major and minor streets shall conform to the following:
(a) 
Minor street.
[1] 
Base course: four inches of dense binder course (3/8 inch) material in two two-inch lifts, as approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director.
[2] 
Surface course: two inches of Class I bituminous concrete Type I-1 top course material, as approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director, stone to be 1/2 inch.
(b) 
Major road.
[1] 
Base course: 4.5 inches of Class I bituminous concrete Type I-1 in two lifts: two inches dense binder course material over 2.5 inches binder course material, as approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director.
[2] 
Surface course: two inches of Class I bituminous concrete Type I-1 top course material, as approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director, stone to be 1/2 inch.
(2) 
Once the street base course has been placed, the developer shall maintain this surface until the street surface course is placed and accepted. If the surface course is not placed within 12 months from the date of placing the base course, the developer shall be responsible for applying a single course surface treatment consisting of an emulsified asphalt product covered with 3/8 inch crushed stone, prior to top course placement. Application rates shall be as follows:
(a) 
Emulsion: 0.4 gallon per square yard.
(b) 
Cover stone: 22 to 26 pounds per square yard. Use pre-treated stone at the rate of 1.5 to two gallons of MC 70 per ton. Also use anti-strip latex additive. The developer shall be responsible for ensuring that the roadway is swept between five and 10 days after the application of the emulsion layer.
(3) 
The developer shall be responsible for maintaining this process until the surface course of bituminous concrete is placed.
(4) 
Under no circumstances will the base course be permitted to winter more than one season without the application of a single surface course treatment.
(5) 
Surface courses damaged by the developer or the contractor, following its acceptance by the Planning Board or its agent, shall be restored or resurfaced by the developer at his expense.
(6) 
The contractor shall place a tack coat consisting of bitumen applied at a rate of 0.05 gallon per square yard, directly to the base course or emulsified asphalt treatment.
A. 
Side slopes. Embankment slopes within or adjoining the right-of-way shall be evenly graded and pitched at a slope of not greater than four horizontal to one vertical. Where steeper slopes are required, the slope may be increased to a maximum of 3:1 with the approval of the Planning Board.
(1) 
Cut slopes in earth shall be graded at a maximum slope of 3.1. Where cuts are made in ledge, other slopes may be determined with the approval of the Board.
(2) 
Where terrain necessitates greater embankment or cut slopes, retaining walls, terracing, fencing, or rip-rap may be used, either alone or in combination, to provide safety and freedom from maintenance, but must be done in accordance with plans filed and approved by the Planning Board. Guardrails shall be furnished wherever the slope is or greater than three horizontal to one vertical downhill with a vertical drop in grade of greater than four feet. Wherever embankments are built in such a way as to require approval by the Board, the developer must furnish to the Town of Groveland duly recorded access easements free of encumbrances for maintenance of the slopes, terraces, or retaining walls. All slopes shall be graded, covered with six inches of screened loam and seeded using materials in accordance with roadside development materials (Section M6) of the Standard Specifications and the requirements of these Rules and Regulations.
B. 
Areas disturbed by construction. Loam and suitable vegetative cover approved by the Board shall be placed on all side slopes and other areas disturbed by construction, unless other types of vegetative or inorganic cover are approved for use or are determined by the Planning Board to be necessary for erosion control.
General. Before approval of a subdivision, the developer shall prepare and submit for approval of the Planning Board or its agent an erosion control plan covering all phases of construction for the area in which work is to be performed. The area shall be specified and may include the portion of work within the right-of-way or may include all or part of the lots depending on the extent of work and location of wetlands. The following factors shall be considered in such a program:
A. 
Construction activities shall be phased so that construction can be completed rapidly and large areas are not left bare and exposed for long periods.
B. 
Grading shall be kept at a minimum. Where possible, existing trees and vegetation shall be protected and retained. Only undesirable trees shall be removed.
C. 
Drainage shall be maintained by the contractor during construction. Runoff shall be controlled and conveyed into storm sewers or other outlets so it will not erode the land or cause off-site damage.
D. 
Critical areas, including embankments and slopes, exposed for periods in excess of one month, shall be protected during construction with mulch or temporary crop covers and with mechanical measures such as diversions and prepared outlets.
E. 
Sediment basins, temporary and permanent, shall be constructed where necessary to detain runoff and to trap sediment during construction.
F. 
Safe off-site disposal of runoff shall be provided, including the increased runoff resulting from construction.
G. 
Permanent vegetation and erosion control structures, where necessary, shall be installed as soon as possible. In all cases where rip-rap is utilized, rip-rap shall be of a size specified by the Planning Board or its agent and placed, rather than dumped.
A. 
Materials and installation methods. Utilities shall be installed in accordance with the approved plan. No utility mains shall be installed under the pavement except at intersections, and stubs crossing the street shall be installed prior to paving. Utility main installation after placement of pavement shall be approved by the Planning Board. Unless otherwise specified, all materials and installation methods shall conform to the standards of the Town of Groveland and the utility companies.
(1) 
All underground utilities and other structures located within the right-of-way shall be installed in the right-of-way before completion of the street subgrade and before placing of the subbase, pavement and sidewalk. If the pavement is broken for underground installation of structures or utilities, pavement repair will be in accordance with the requirements of the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director and the Planning Board.
(2) 
Excavation for structures (Section 140 of the Standard Specifications). Excavation for structures, including foundations for drains, sewers, gas and water pipes, walls and other structures, shall be made to the depth indicated on the definitive plan or established by the Planning Board or its agent as appropriate. Rocks encountered in trench excavation determined to be Class B rock shall be removed as directed by the Planning Board or its agent.
B. 
Sewerage.
(1) 
On-site sewage disposal facilities shall be installed and constructed in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Board of Health and Title 5, Massachusetts State Environmental Code. Due consideration should be given to surface and subsurface soil conditions, drainage, and topography in the location of such on-site facilities.
(2) 
Municipal sewer mains and appurtenances shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Groveland Sewer Board and the Massachusetts DEP-WPC standards and requirements.
C. 
Gas. If gas is to be installed within a proposed subdivision, the gas company shall be notified by the developer upon approval of the definitive plan so that installation of gas mains may be completed without undue delay and prior to placement of pavement. If excavation is made after the pavement is completed and inspected, the gas mains shall be put in a sawcut trench, backfilled with approved material, and patched in accordance and to the lines, grades and dimensions approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director.
D. 
Electric. Electric lines shall be installed underground in accordance with the regulations of the Groveland Municipal Light Department. The Planning Board may permit transformers, switches, and other such equipment to be placed on the ground in approved locations, screened from view with evergreen shrubbery. Service shall be supplied to each lot and each streetlight, if any, before the subgrade is prepared.
E. 
Other utilities. Other utilities shall be installed in underground conduits in accordance with the method required by the utility company or department. Fire alarm, telephone, and, if any, cable television, shall be installed underground and may be in the same trench with vertical and or horizontal separation as approved by the Planning Board. Service shall be provided to each lot before the subgrade is prepared.
(See Section 200 of the Highway Specifications.)
A. 
General. Adequate disposal of surface and subsurface water shall be provided. Where pipes, manholes, and catch basins are required, they shall be shown on the definitive plan.
B. 
Basins, manholes, and inlets (Section 201 of the Standard Specifications). All basins, manholes, and inlet structures shall be constructed in conformance with the latest Massachusetts Department of Transportation construction standards. The standard depth of catch basins shall be four feet below the invert of the lowest drain. Manholes shall be constructed to the required depth at each junction point and shall be as shown on the plan. Basin and inlet grates shall be of a type approved by the Groveland Road Commissioner/Public Works Director.
(1) 
All catch basins, manholes and inlets shall have a minimum of two courses of red sewer brick (concrete cement brick is not allowed) under the frame of the cover or grate.
(2) 
All frames and covers or frames and grates shall be temporarily set at subbase grade and be furnished with a "silt sack" or other erosion device to prevent silt from entering the pipe system network.
(3) 
Prior to installation of the binder pavement, all frames and covers or frames and grates shall be raised to binder grade by constructing additional layers of red sewer brick and prior to the final pavement placement steel extension rings, manufactured of A-36 steel, finished with black asphalt paint, or approved equal, shall be installed to raise the frame or grate to finished grade.
C. 
Culverts, storm drains, and sewer pipes. All pipes except sub-drains shall be reinforced concrete pipe Type III, minimum, and shall be selected in conformity with the requirements of the Standard Specifications. All pipe shall be installed in accordance with the size and location on the approved definitive plan. No backfilling of pipes shall be done until the installation has been inspected by the Planning Board or its agent. All drainage trenches shall be filled with clean gravel borrow, Type B, in accordance with Section 150.
D. 
Sub-drains. Where sub-drains are required by the Planning Board, Road Commissioner/Public Works Director or Planning Board engineer, they shall be designed and constructed as detailed in the "Typical Sub-drain" drawing, Detail B, as shown in the Appendix.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Appendix is available from the Town offices and on the Town website, www.grovelandma.com.
E. 
Fencing. Decorative landscape fencing shall be provided around all open stormwater detention/retention areas. Fencing shall be a style and height as approved by the Planning Board.
A. 
Requirements for sidewalks. Where sidewalks are required, they shall be constructed within the subdivision as shown on the approved definitive plan.
B. 
Width. All sidewalks shall be a minimum width of five feet. Sidewalks shall be provided with handicapped ramps where required by the Planning Board and meet the current Massachusetts Architectural Access Board standards.
C. 
Sidewalks adjacent to street. Within a subdivision, sidewalks shall be separated from the road pavement by a seeded grass plot a minimum of five feet in width and may be made of either cement concrete or bituminous concrete.
D. 
Reference to standard specifications. All sidewalk construction shall be in accordance with the requirements of Sidewalks and Bituminous Concrete Driveways (Section 701 of the Standard Specifications), except the cross slope shall be 3/16 of an inch per foot of width to conform to Massachusetts Architectural Access Board requirements.
Where bikeways and walkways are required, they shall be constructed in accordance with the specifications for sidewalks above, except for the design standard requirement of § 70-4.13. Where bikeways and walkways intersect with sidewalks, leveling areas shall be provided. These leveling areas shall be shown in detail on the definitive plan for the subdivision. All bikeways shall conform to current Federal Highway Administration standards. Where trails have been relocated or otherwise disturbed, the developer shall ensure that they are readily passable on foot or horseback. They shall have solid footing, be level from side to side, neither ascend nor descend at an excessive slope and be clear of obstructions and other hazards.
A. 
Granite curbing. The Planning Board may specify that "battered" granite curbs with a five-inch face set in concrete with the dimensions given for granite curb (Section M9.04.I), Type VB4 in the Standard Specifications, be provided in the following locations, and be installed in accordance with the construction methods outlined under Curb, Curb Inlets, Curb Corners, and Edging (Section 501). See also § 70-4.8 of these regulations.
(1) 
Vertical granite curbing shall be provided at intersections along the paving edge the distance of arcs of the curves plus a straight section at each end of six feet, in accordance with the approved plan, Type VB4.
(2) 
Sloped granite curbing shall be provided at raised traffic islands and medians, Type VA3.
(3) 
Sloped granite curbing shall be provided at all other edges of the street at grades less than 5%, Type SA.
(4) 
Vertical granite curbing shall be provided at edges of the street at grades of greater than 5%, Type VA3.
A. 
General. Guard fences, rails, and walls shall be installed wherever determined necessary by the Planning Board or its agent to provide needed protection to the public and when slopes are 3:1 or greater or have a vertical drop in excess of four feet. When provided, they shall be constructed in accordance with the approved plans and the current standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Roadside Design Guide. Construction details of all fences, rails, and walls shall be shown on the definitive plan for the subdivision. Whenever possible, such fences, rails, and walls shall be of a rustic nature to blend with the character of the Town.
B. 
Stone wall appearance. Stone walls in New England and in Groveland are a proud hallmark of our heritage and are a fundamental quality of the charm and special nature of this rural community.
(1) 
They shall be simple and modest; usually three feet in height; and give the viewer the impression that they are almost naturally part of the landscape. They are not to be constructed in such a manner so that they look as if they are "finished works" with uniform dimensions and surfaces and smooth lines.
(2) 
Stone walls shall be constructed (or at least appear so) by carefully piling the stones without visible mortar. Here again, the element of simplicity is present; in fact, properly "piling" the stone requires careful planning, especially if the wall is to have the necessary amount of structural integrity to withstand the pressure of plowed snow. Groveland stone walls shall not have bronze or metallic plaques embedded in the surface.
(3) 
The ends of a stone wall should be as simple and natural as the wall itself. Importantly, at openings for driveways or roads, the stone wall should not be perfectly curved to parallel the road flair, which would be characteristic of a suburban development.
Retaining walls, when required, shall be constructed of field stone and mortar and shall be finished with a concrete cap to prevent deterioration.
A. 
Street trees of nursery stock conforming to current standards of the American Association of Nurserymen, of the species approved by the Road Commissioner/Public Works Director and the Planning Board, shall be planted on each side of each street in a subdivision, except where the definitive plan shows trees to be retained which are healthy and adequate, which shall be retained. Street trees shall be located outside of the right-of-way or, at the discretion of the Planning Board, within the unpaved portion of the right-of-way approximately at fifty-foot intervals; shall be at least 12 feet in height; three inches in caliper measured four feet above the approved grade, unless otherwise required by the Road Commissioner/Public Works Director and the Planning Board; and be not closer than five feet to nor more than 20 feet from said right-of-way line unless otherwise approved by the Planning Board.
B. 
All retained street trees shall be clear of any branches protruding into the shoulder and road area from the approved grade level to a point seven feet above ground level.
C. 
Except as otherwise provided, all side slopes shall be planted with a low-growing shrub or vine, and wood chipped to a minimum depth of six inches or, at the Planning Board's option, seeded with a deep-rooted perennial grass to prevent erosion.
D. 
Planting methods, including wrapping, staking, and guying, shall be in accordance with planting trees, shrubs and ground cover (Section 771 of the Standard Specifications).
E. 
All reasonable care shall be exercised to preserve the trees in the subdivision.
F. 
The developer will be liable for all trees so planted as to their erectness and good health after planting and until the release of all guarantees.
A. 
Monuments shall be a standard permanent granite conforming to granite bounds (M9.04.9) and of not less than three feet in length and not less than four inches in width and breadth and shall have a hole 0.5 inch in diameter and 1.5 inches deep, drilled in the center of the top surface. The final location is to be certified by a professional land surveyor and each drill hole shall be filled with lead marked by a brass pin.
B. 
Monuments shall be installed in accordance with bounds (Section 710) of the Standard Specifications at the time of final surface grading with the top flush with the final grade surface.
C. 
The placement and accurate location of these monuments and markers shall be certified by a professional land surveyor and properly located on the as-built and street right-of-way acceptance plans.
A. 
From the time of rough grading until such time as each street is accepted by the Town as a public way, the sign posts at the intersection of such street with any other street shall have affixed thereto a sign designating such street as a private way.
B. 
Street signs for each intersecting street shall be installed at each intersection to conform to the requirements of the Road Commissioner/Public Works Director.
C. 
No street sign, temporary or permanent, shall be installed showing a name other than the one approved by the Planning Board.
D. 
Subdivision signs may be temporarily posted for a period not to exceed two years from the sale of the first lot within that subdivision. After that period, the sign must be removed.
A. 
Where required by the Planning Board, street and pedestrian lighting shall be installed to conform to the type and style in general use in the Town of Groveland, unless otherwise specified by the Planning Board; and no lighting shall be installed except as approved by the Planning Board. It shall be located on a suitable post, which may be of concrete or aluminum, having a height of 25 feet or more as approved by the Planning Board.
B. 
Street and pedestrian light stanchions shall be located in the grass plot at such intervals as required by the Planning Board, and shall be installed in accord with the procedures required by the Groveland Municipal Light Department.
C. 
All luminaries shall be of the indirect, shielded type.
Where required by the Planning Board, a fire alarm system shall be installed within the subdivision to conform with the specifications of the Fire Department and shall be located as specified on the definitive plan unless otherwise specified by the Planning Board.
No lot shall be considered complete until all stumps, brush, roots, and like material and all trees, rocks, and boulders not intended for preservation by the developer shall have been removed and disposed of in a manner and place satisfactory to the Planning Board. Any fire hazard shall be removed promptly to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief. This section does not authorize the removal, including severing and stripping, of soil, loam, sand, or gravel on such lot.
Any subdivision located in any part within an area subject to flooding shall comply with the following:
A. 
Subdivision design shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage within the flood-prone area, through use of open space reservation, street profile design, and drainage.
B. 
All public utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems, shall be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage.
C. 
No increase in off-site discharge shall be permitted.
For the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience, and welfare of the Town's inhabitants, for the provision of adequate access to all of the lots in a subdivision by means that will be safe and convenient for travel, for reducing the danger to life and limb in the operation of motor vehicles, for securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic and other emergencies; under the authority of MGL c. 41, § 81M as amended, the developer or his successor shall provide for the proper maintenance, including snow removal, sand and salting, etc., and repair of improvements during the period of construction and until the Town votes to accept such improvements.
The developer shall provide competent supervision during the development of the subdivision. If at any time it becomes apparent to the Road Commissioner/Public Works Director or the Planning Board that the supervision is not satisfactory, the Planning Board may order the discontinuance of the development until competent supervision is provided.
If the proposed development contains hazardous materials or underground storage tank(s), the location and extent shall be shown on the subdivision plans. All remedial work required shall be performed in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws.