Under the authority vested in the Barnstable Planning Board, or its legally constituted successor, by § 81-Q of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, said Board hereby adopts these rules and regulations governing the subdivision of land in the Town of Barnstable. Such rules and regulations shall supersede and replace any previously adopted Subdivision Control Law Rules and Regulations; and may be amended in accordance with the provisions of § 81-Q of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
A. 
The Subdivision Control Law has been enacted for the purpose of protecting the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town by regulating the laying out and construction of ways in subdivisions providing access to the lots therein, and ensuring sanitary conditions in subdivisions and in proper cases parks and open areas.
B. 
The powers of the Board 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 ensuring compliance with the applicable zoning ordinances; for securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, drainage, underground utility services, fire, police, street lighting, and other similar municipal equipment and other requirements where necessary in a subdivision; and for coordinating the ways in a subdivision with each other and with the public ways in the Town and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions.