[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16; 4-29-2024 ATM by Art. 35]
No person shall put, place or pile wood, lumber, stones or other materials within the limits of any public street or way within the Town, except with permission of the Select Board.
[Adopted as Ch. 8, §§ 8-7 through 8-11; Ch. 10, §§ 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, of the General Bylaws]
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16]
No person shall continue to stand or remain, alone or with others, near on any sidewalk or in any public place, in such a manner as to obstruct a free passage for travelers thereon, or loiter on any sidewalk or street after having been requested by a constable or police officer to move on. Violations of this section are punishable by criminal complaint or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and § 100-2 of the Town Code
A.
Prohibited. Three or more persons shall not stand together or near each other in any street or way dedicated to public use, or on any footwalk or sidewalk or upon any land left open between the street and building facing thereon and left open and used as a sidewalk in the Town, so as to obstruct the free passage of foot passengers; and any person or persons so standing shall move immediately after a request to do so by any police officer of the Town.
No person shall make a bonfire or other fire, or kick a football, or play at any game in which a ball is used, or fly a kite or balloon, or throw stones or snowballs, or other missiles, in any public street or way in the Town.
[Amended 4-29-2024 ATM by Art. 35]
No person shall coast or slide on any sled or other like vehicle in or upon any public sidewalk or street or way in the Town, except at such times and in such places as may from time to time be designated by the Select Board.
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16; 4-29-2024 ATM by Art. 35; 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 15]
A.
Permit required. No person shall make or construct or reconstruct or modify a driveway or other means of access or exit for motor vehicles onto a public roadway or across a sidewalk, unless a permit is issued and approved by the Highway Department. The contractor that performs the work will need to apply for a Street Opening Permit and submit a detailed drawing of the proposed new or modified driveway.
B.
Design requirements.
(1)
A residential driveway apron shall not exceed 24 feet in width. (Multiple openings can be combined to equal 24 feet).
(2)
Residential driveways will consist of a driveway configured at an angle 90° to the first 20 feet of the property line.
(3)
Circular driveways are allowed, with a minimum frontage of 100 feet. Each apron may not exceed 12 feet or combined to equal 24 feet.
(4)
Driveways are to be set back 50 feet or more from a street corner, measured between the nearest edge of the driveway and the cross-road's edge of pavement.
(5)
The grade of a driveway may not exceed 10% for a distance of at least 20 feet from the property line into the lot and not more than 30% at any point.
(6)
New or modified driveways shall not increase the amount of runoff that drains to the roadway and shall be graded so that runoff does not drain to the roadway, if there is no other option there must be a drain installed on the property to capture any runoff before it enters the roadway.
(7)
Driveways shall not be constructed in any manner which inhibits the existing drainage system of the Town way. Drainage shall include country-style drainage solutions, such as swales, detention areas, or permeable pavers, to mitigate the volume of runoff. Driveway openings shall not be located at catch basins or curb inlets.
(8)
The elevation of the driveway at the property line shall be a minimum of three inches higher than the elevation of the centerline of the Town right of way.
(9)
Any access to a public way or across any sidewalk shall conform to the typical cross-section of driveway apron which will be graded and constructed to be ADA compliant.
(10)
At locations where sidewalks and curbing exist, curb corners of like material shall be installed with a minimum two-foot radius.
C.
Applications. All permit applicants for proposed residential driveways or modifications to existing driveways must submit a detailed drawing that shall include all pertinent trees, hydrants, utility poles, catch basins, manholes, water gates, wetland areas etc., as well as the existing and proposed driveway dimensions, grades and property lines in sufficient detail to ensure compliance with the above requirements.
D.
Application for relief. A property owner or applicant may request relief from any of the provisions of this bylaw, in whole or in part, by submitting a written request to the Town Administrator. The request must include:
(1)
A detailed explanation of the specific provision(s) from which relief is being sought.
(2)
A statement of the reasons why compliance with the provision(s) would be unreasonable, impractical, or otherwise infeasible.
(3)
Any proposed alternatives that meet the intent of the bylaw to the greatest extent possible.
(4)
Supporting documentation, including plans, studies, or reports as necessary to justify the request.
E.
Review of request. The Town Administrator or their designee will review the request for relief. The Administrator may consult with other relevant Town departments or boards, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, or Highway Department, depending on the nature of the request.
F.
Criteria for relief. Relief may be granted only if the applicant demonstrates that:
(1)
Compliance with the bylaw would cause undue hardship due to site-specific conditions, such as topography, existing infrastructure, or environmental constraints.
(2)
The requested relief will not result in adverse impacts to public safety, welfare, or the environment.
(3)
The intent and purpose of the bylaw will still be substantially met with the requested relief.
(4)
The requested relief will not create a detriment to the general public or surrounding properties.
G.
Approval of relief. If the Town Administrator finds that the request meets the criteria for relief, they may approve the request with conditions, modifications, or other stipulations to ensure compliance with the overall goals of the bylaw. The Town Administrator may also require additional measures, such as mitigation of environmental impacts or additional safety features, as part of the relief granted.
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16]
No person shall drive, wheel or draw any coach, cart, wheelbarrow, hand-cart, or any carriage of burden or pleasure (except children's carriages drawn by hand or personal assistive mobility devices) upon any sidewalk in the Town.
[Amended 4-29-2024 ATM by Art. 35]
A.
License and bond required. The Select Board may grant a written license to any person to occupy or obstruct a sidewalk for a limited time for the more convenient erection, alteration, repair of a building, and they shall require the person to whom such license is given to furnish a satisfactory bond to the Town to hold it harmless from all claims for loss or damage from such occupancy or obstruction.
B.
Alternative walkway. Whenever any sidewalk becomes obstructed under such license, the person doing the work or causing the same to be done shall place a good and convenient walk around such obstructions when ordered to do so by the Select Board or other officials having charge of the public streets.
[Added 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 13]
No person, except an officer or employee of the Town shall place or throw or cause to be placed or thrown on to any public sidewalk, street, fire hydrant, or highway any snow, dirt, leaves, gravel or foreign substance or material.
[Added 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 13]
Any planted or naturally occurring brush, trees, or vegetation on private property that encroaches upon the Town's right-of-way and obstructs roads, sidewalks, or trails is prohibited. It is the property owner's responsibility to remove such obstructions. If the owner fails to do so, the Town may remove them at the owner's expense. Additionally, all brush, trees, vegetation, or structures (including but not limited to fences and sheds) on private property must not obstruct sightlines for motorists or pedestrians. Should the road, sidewalk, or trail be adjacent to Town owned or controlled property the Highway Department or any other designated Town Employee shall be responsible for the removal of the brush, tree, or vegetation encroachment.
[Added 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 13]
The Town of Groveland may elect to utilize the noncriminal disposition procedure set forth in G.L. Ch. 40, § 21D for any violation of the Use and Obstruction of Public Ways bylaw. The Highway Superintendent or their appointee shall be responsible for enforcement of this §§ 340-10.1 through 340-10.2. Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $25 per day if the material is not removed, every day being a separate offense.
[Added 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 14]
A.
No person, homeowner, business owner or corporate entity shall discharge or pump any water, ground water or runoff onto a public roadway, sidewalk or town owned land within the limits of the Town unless permission is obtained from the Highway Department.
B.
No person, homeowner, business owner or corporate entity, at any time, shall directly connect any discharge pipes from their property into the town's drainage systems pipes, manholes, catch basins, waterways or into a culvert structure unless permission is obtained from the Highway Department.
[Added 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 14]
The Town of Groveland may elect to utilize the noncriminal disposition procedure set forth in G.L. Ch. 40, § 21D for any violation of the illicit discharge bylaw. The Highway Department Superintendent or their appointee shall be responsible for enforcement of this § 340-10.4. The penalty for each violation shall be $300. Each day or part thereof that such violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense.