Section 81M of Chapter 41 of the General Laws
states: "The Subdivision Control Law has been enacted for the purpose
of protecting the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants
of the cities and towns in which it is, or may hereafter be, put in
effect by regulating the laying out and construction of ways in subdivisions
providing access to several lots therein, but which have not become
public ways, and ensuring sanitary conditions in subdivisions and,
in proper cases, parks and open areas. The powers of a planning board
and of a board of appeal 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 securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic
and other emergencies; for ensuring compliance with the applicable
zoning ordinances or bylaws; for securing adequate provision for water,
sewerage, drainage and underground utility services and fire, police
and other municipal equipment and streetlighting 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 city
or town in which it is located and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions.
. . ."
These rules and regulations have been adopted
under the authority vested in the Planning Board of the Town of Groton
by MGL C. 41, § 81Q, as amended. The Board shall be the
agency responsible for administration of these rules and regulations
and shall have all the powers assigned to it by MGL C. 41, §§ 81K
to 81GG.
