close
Standards of construction not otherwise specified hereunder shall be according to the Standard Specifications for Highways, Bridges and Waterways and the Construction Standards of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works (current editions).
A. 
All improvements specified or implied on the definitive plan shall be constructed in accordance with the approved plans. The owner shall ensure that the Board has a set of reproducible plans (mylars or sepias) prior to construction.
B. 
A copy of the approved plans, conditions of approval and these rules and regulations shall be maintained on site.
C. 
As each construction operation is completed, it shall be inspected and approved by the Planning Board or its agent prior to starting work on the succeeding operation according to the construction inspection schedule in the Appendix.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.
D. 
All improvements shall be installed at no cost to the Town unless specifically authorized by the Selectmen.
E. 
The terms "applicant," "contractor" and "subdivider" used throughout this article shall all refer to the owner's responsibility to ensure that the construction standards are followed and that all of his representatives uphold those standards while maintaining the safety of others.
F. 
The contractor shall provide fences, barriers, signs and other safety features as may be necessary for the protection of the public when working within a public way or area, or when deemed necessary by the Board, or other Town safety official, at no cost to the Town.
G. 
All pavement, drain lines and underground municipal services shall be laid out as to line and grade by a registered civil engineer or registered land surveyor. All right-of-way lines shall be laid out as to line by a registered land surveyor.
H. 
The contractor shall facilitate inspection of work and provide for the requested tests of materials by independent laboratories for quality control at no cost to the Town. Typically, upon the completion of the final wearing course of bituminous concrete in the street, the subdivider orders core borings every 300 feet in alternate lanes to be performed by an independent laboratory. The core borings are two feet in depth. A full report shall be submitted to the Board for review.
A. 
Survey. Prior to and during construction, all lines and grades necessary for the construction and inspection of the subdivisions shall be field staked.
B. 
Clearing and grubbing.
(1) 
Prior to clearing and grubbing, all erosion control measures shall be in place per the plans and the Conservation Commission order of conditions.
(2) 
The entire area of each street or way within its exterior lines and its adjoining sloped areas shall be cleared of all stumps, brush, roots, boulders, like material, and all trees not intended for preservation. If any large boulders or trees remain within the street lines which may, in the opinion of the Planning Board, constitute a future hazard, the Board may require that they be removed to a depth of not less than 12 inches below the bottom of the street foundation.
(3) 
Remaining trees shall be protected from mechanical injury during the construction and from adverse changes and/or excavations as recommended in United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 104 (April 1965). Trees existing within rights-of-way or easements shall be so protected in such other ways as required by the Planning Board. Where individual trees in fill areas are to be saved, the contractor shall provide adequate tree wells or other suitable protection so that the original ground for a distance around the tree trunk is not covered over.
C. 
Excavation and backfill.
(1) 
The full length and width of the proposed roadway pavement area shall be excavated or filled, as necessary, to a depth of at least 15 inches below the finished surface as shown on the profile. However, if the soil is soft and spongy or contains undesirable material such as clay, peat, or any other material detrimental to the subgrade, such material shall be removed and replaced with a sand, gravel, crushed stone, or other suitable material per MDPW standards and thoroughly compacted per Subsection C(2) on top of filter fabric.
(2) 
All fills shall be placed in eight-inch minimum lifts below the road subbase and shall be of an approved material containing not more than 10% material by weight passing the 200 sieve, and each lift shall be compacted to not less than 95% maximum dry density of the material by determining by the standard AASHTO test designation T99 compaction test method at optimum moisture content.
(3) 
Ledge occurring anywhere in the full cross section of the roadway must be cleared to a minimum of 18 inches below finished grade.
D. 
Side slopes and embankments.
(1) 
Embankments outside the right-of-way shall be evenly graded and pitched at a slope of not greater than 4:1 (H:V) horizontal to vertical. Where cuts are made in ledge, other slopes may be approved by the Board. Where terrain necessitates greater slopes, retaining walls, terracing, fencing, or rip-rap may be used to provide safety and freedom from maintenance but must be done in accordance with plans filed with (and approved by) the Board. Slopes and embankments with 3:1 (H:V) or flatter slopes shall be loamed and seeded per Subsection E(1).
(2) 
The area in back of the sidewalk within the right-of-way shall be sloped at the maximum slope of 3:1 (H:V) and shall be loamed and seeded per Subsection E(1) or kept in a natural, neat and maintained condition in areas where cuts and fills did not obliterate existing trees and foliage, or sloped with a greater ratio H:V with proper embankment stabilization as described in this section.
(3) 
Guardrails are required where embankments of fill are greater than 2:1 (H:V). Refer to Appendix.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.
E. 
Landscaping; loam, seed and trees.
(1) 
The top six inches of grassed areas shall consist of good quality loam, screened, raked and rolled with a suitable roller to grade. The required depth of loam shall be measured after rolling. Fertilizer shall be applied and mixed with the upper two inches of loam at the rate of 30 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Fertilizer shall be a complete commercial fertilizer grade suitable for the topsoil to which it will be applied. Suitable permanent grass seed shall be spread to provide a thick solid lawn cover. The contractor shall maintain the grassed area for a period of one year minimum to ensure its stability and lack of weeds.
(2) 
A grass plot (or shoulder) five feet wide (minimum) shall be provided between the curing and sidewalk areas for streets which require sidewalks or along each side of the road. The grass plot shall have a slope 3/8 inch per foot draining towards the road (unless topographic conditions warrant otherwise).
(3) 
Utility poles and streetlights shall be located in the grass plot but shall not be nearer than 25 feet to the intersection of two streets, measured from the intersection of the tangents of the intersecting streets.
(4) 
Street trees of a species approved by the Planning Board shall be planted on each side of each street in a subdivision, except where the definitive plan shows existing trees to be retained and preserved. Such trees shall be located on the grass plot, approximately at seventy-five-foot intervals, and shall be at least 12 feet in height when planted.
(5) 
The owner of the subdivision shall plant other trees as needed to provide at least one area of shade on each lot.
(6) 
All trees shall be planted in a minimum of 0.5 cubic yard of loam. Trees shall be properly wrapped and guyed in a manner to ensure their survival. The contractor shall maintain the trees for a one-year period minimum to ensure their survival and to enhance their aesthetic value, by pruning and fertilizing as needed. If any trees die within one year minimum, they shall be immediately replaced by the contractor.
F. 
Street construction specifications.
(1) 
Cross sections. Street construction shall conform to the typical cross section as shown in the Appendix.[2] All roadways shall be brought to finish grade as shown on the profiles of the definitive plan.
[2]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.
(2) 
Gravel subbase.
(a) 
The gravel subbase shall be spread in two layers per MDPW Specifications Section 401.60. Before the gravel is spread, the roadbed shall be shaped to a rue surface conforming to the proposed cross section of the road. The bottom eight-inch layer shall be spread and rolled with gravel meeting MDPW size M1.03.0 Type A (no stones over six inches). The top four inches shall be spread and rolled with a gravel meeting MDPW specification M1.03.0 Type B (no stones over three-inch diameter).
(b) 
All layers shall be compacted to not less than 98% of the maximum dry density of the material as determined by the standard AASHTO test designation T99 compaction test method at optimum moisture content. The gravel shall be fine graded to a tolerance of 1/2 inch plus or minus within the finished subgrade for a distance of not more than 50 feet (as long as the required crown is maintained). The specified subbase shall not be prepared after a large rainstorm (when the ground is unstable due to excessive moisture) or during freezing weather, or when ground is frozen.
(3) 
Setting drainage structures.
(a) 
Prior to installation of binder course, all catch basins shall be set to binder grade to casting set (the remaining bottom part of the manhole shall be covered with a suitable steel plate). Prior to installation of the top course all manhole frames and covers shall be set to finished grade and set in concrete. All catch basins shall be raised to finished grade and set in concrete. The concrete shall be flush with the binder course to allow the top course to be flush with the cover or rim grade.
(b) 
The contact surface of manholes, catch basins, other appurtenant structures in the pavement, and the abutting pavement of existing roads shall be painted thoroughly with a thin uniform coat of bitumen just before any bituminous concrete mixture is placed against them.
(4) 
Bituminous concrete pavement. The paving shall consist of a binder course (three-inch compacted thickness for major and secondary streets and two-inch compacted thickness for minor streets and lanes) followed by a wearing course (one-inch compacted thickness) per MDPW Specifications Section 460 Class I bituminous concrete pavement, Type I-1. The bituminous binder shall not be applied between November 15 and April 1 without written approval from the Board. Equipment having crawler tracks or other treads that mar or damage pavement shall not move or operate on newly constructed pavement unless precautions are taken to prevent damage to pavements.
(5) 
Street signs and names.
(a) 
Street signs. The subdivider shall furnish and erect necessary street signs to designate the name of each street in the development, after recommendation of the Board, said signs to conform to those used by the Town. 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 fixed thereto a sign designating such street as a private way.
(b) 
Street names. Street names shall be approved by the Planning Board to prevent duplication and to provide names in keeping with the character of the Town.
(6) 
Streetlights.
(a) 
At the discretion of the Planning Board, streetlights may be required on all streets.
(b) 
Streetlights shall be installed to conform to type and style in general use in the Town.
(c) 
Streetlights shall be located at intervals as required by the Board.
(7) 
Curbing. Curbing is required on both sides of major, secondary and minor streets and shall be as follows:
(a) 
Bituminous concrete curb (Type 2) or sloped granite edge per MDPW standards.
(b) 
All curves having a radius of 60 feet or less at the street line shall have the gutter line curbed with vertical granite curbing cut to fit the curve.
(c) 
Rolled bituminous berm, to be used only at driveway entrances.
(d) 
Granite curb inlets shall be provided at all catch basins.
(e) 
Curb transitions for handicap ramps are required at street intersections.
(f) 
Lanes do not require curbs; however, the gravel subbase on lanes shall extend a minimum of 12 inches beyond the edge of the pavement for a firm road shoulder.
(8) 
Sidewalks.
(a) 
Widths and locations. There shall be a sidewalk having a width of four feet on each side of each street for major and secondary streets. Minor streets shall have a sidewalk on one side of the street, and lanes do not require sidewalks. Where applicable, the sidewalk may end at the beginning of the cul-de-sac and does not have to go all the way around the cul-de-sac. Handicap ramps and extensions of the sidewalks shall be provided at all street intersections per MDPW standards.
(b) 
Sidewalk gravel subbase. All materials shall be removed for the full width of the sidewalk to subgrade eight inches below the finished grade as shown on cross section in the Appendix;[3] all soft spots and other undesirable material below such subgrade shall be replaced with a good binding material and rolled. This excavated area shall then be filled with six inches of sidewalk gravel per MDPW standards and rolled with a pitch toward the curb of not less than 1/4 inch nor greater than 3/8 inch to the foot.
[3]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.
(c) 
Bituminous sidewalk. Surfacing forms shall be set to grade and filled with two inches of compacted bituminous concrete to be applied in two courses (binder and finish courses).
G. 
Utility specifications.
(1) 
Drainage construction specifications.
(a) 
All detention and/or retention basins shall be excavated, loamed and seeded prior to the closed drainage system installation. This will allow the drainage system to function throughout the various construction phases.
(b) 
The drainage lines shall be laid with the bell ends upstream, beginning at the lower end of the drainage system.
(c) 
Trench excavation. Those specifications in § 258-20C(1) shall also apply for trench excavation in unsuitable or spongy soil material. For ledge occurring in pipe trenches, the ledge must be cleared (blasted if necessary) a minimum of six inches below and on both sides of the pipe. Excavation in earth shall be to a depth of nine inches lower than the bottom of the pipe. Trenches shall be shaped to give the pipe a continuous and even bearing. The minimum width of trench shall be three feet or two feet plus pipe diameter, whichever is greater.
(d) 
Pipe bedding. Gravel borrow per MDPW Standard M1.03.0 Type C or crushed stone MDPW Standard M2.01.2 to the pipe's spring line, compacted to 95% in six-inch lifts.
(e) 
Pipe laying. The pipeline shall be laid to the grades and alignment indicated on the approved definitive plans. While laying the pipe, the contractor shall remove, by pumping or other suitable means, any water accumulated in the trench, keeping the trench dry until the joints are properly connected and inspected. Joints per MDPW standard.
(f) 
Backfilling. First layer (from the pipe's spring line to 12 inches over the top of the pipe) is sand borrow MDPW Standard M1.014.0 Type A, compacted to 95% in six-inch lifts. Second layer backfill (above the first layer) shall be select backfill, no stones over three inches, per MDPW Standard M1.02.0, compacted to 95% in one-foot lifts.
(g) 
The drainage system shall be cleaned and maintained by the owner throughout construction and until the road has been accepted by the Town. Erosion control measures and other necessary precautions shall be taken to prevent silt and debris from accumulating.
(2) 
Other public utilities. Installation of telephone and electric lines and service connections shall be underground.
(3) 
Utility extension. Where adjacent property is not subdivided or where all the property of the applicant is not being subdivided at the same time, provision shall be made for the extension of the utility system by continuing the mains the full length of streets and to the exterior limits of the subdivision, at such grade and size which will, in the opinion of the Planning Board, permit their proper extension.
(4) 
Laterals. All utility service stubs (laterals) shall be installed and capped off at the edge of the right-of-way for every lot with appropriate ties (and/or location markers) to enable the quick recovery of such laterals without excavation within the right-of-way.
H. 
Monuments. Monuments shall be installed on both sides at all intersections of streets with each other, at all points of change in direction or curvature of streets, and at all such other points as in the opinion of the Board may be necessary to show the location of projected streets or easements. Monuments shall be five inches by five inches granite or concrete, embedded 3.75 feet below finished grade (except in cases of ledge where the Board may choose an alternative or reduce the required depth). Monuments shall be three inches above the finished ground surface. Drill holes shall be placed in the top of each bound. No permanent monuments shall be installed until all road construction which would destroy or disturb the monuments is completed. A letter from the surveyor shall be submitted certifying that the monuments have been installed as indicated on the definitive plan.
I. 
Cleaning up. The entire area must be cleaned up to leave a neat and orderly appearance free from debris and other objectionable materials.
Before the Board will release in whole or in part the interest of the Town in a performance bond, deposit or securities (or, in the case of approval with covenant, release of covenant), the applicant shall complete to the satisfaction of the Board the following:
A. 
Street acceptance and as-built plans. Two copies of each shall be filed with the Board of Selectmen.
(1) 
Street acceptance plan. The applicant shall file with the Board of Selectmen a certified street acceptance plan (or, in the case of approval with covenant, a plan of the street ways serving the lots for which a release is desired), prepared by a registered land surveyor, showing the dimensions and directions of the way, and showing monuments installed. The surveyor shall certify on the plan that the monuments have been accurately installed in accordance with these rules and regulations. This plan shall be suitable for recording or registration.
(2) 
As-built plan. The applicant shall file an as-built plan, prepared by a registered civil engineer or land surveyor, which shall bear a statement certifying that streets, storm drains, and other infrastructure have been constructed in accordance with these rules and regulations and any conditions approved by the Board.
B. 
Inspection records.
(1) 
The applicant shall be responsible for obtaining and submitting to the Board written evidence that the construction of the subdivision road and infrastructure was inspected and approved by the Board or its agent and that all improvements have been fully completed in accordance with these rules and regulations.
(2) 
The owner shall schedule a pre-construction conference to discuss the construction schedule and review the conditions of the definitive plans and all other permits with the contractor.
(3) 
The owner shall request to the Board or its agent inspections at least 48 hours in advance. The minimum inspections required are specified in the Appendix.[1] If in the opinion of the Board the developer/contractor abuses inspectional services or additional inspectional services are required, the developer shall pay for them.
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.
C. 
Conveying title to utilities. The applicant shall execute an instrument transferring to the Town, without cost, valid unencumbered title to all utilities and appurtenances thereto, constructed and installed in the subdivision or approved portion thereof, and conveying to the Town without cost and free of all liens and encumbrances perpetual rights and easements to construct, inspect, repair, renew, replace, operate and forever maintain such utilities, and to do all acts incidental thereto, in, through and under the whole of all streets in the subdivision or approved portion thereof, and if any such utilities have been constructed and installed in land not within such streets, then in, through and under a strip of land extending 10 feet in width on each side of the center line of all such utilities.
D. 
Conveying title to easements. The applicant shall execute an instrument transferring to the Town, without cost, valid unencumbered title to all easements established in connection with the subdivision or required by the Board in the definitive plan. Legal description of the easement shall appear in the deed.
E. 
Additional testing. If additional testing is required to confirm or verify the suitability of as-built conditions, such shall be the responsibility of the applicant under the direction of the Board or its agent.
F. 
Release of performance guarantee.
(1) 
Upon the completion of improvements, security for the performance of which was given by bond, deposit or covenant, or upon the performance of any covenant with respect to any lot, the applicant may send by registered mail to the Town Clerk a written statement in duplicate that said construction or installation in connection with such bond, deposit or covenant given has been completed in accordance with these rules and regulations. The statement shall contain the name and address of the applicant, and the Town Clerk shall present a copy of said statement to the Planning Board.
(2) 
If the Board determines that said construction or installation has been completed, it shall notify the Town Treasurer in writing that it releases the interest of the Town in such bond or deposit and that such bond or deposit shall be returned to the person or persons who furnished the same. In the case of a covenant, the Board shall issue a written release of the covenant suitable for recording. However, 10% of the value of the bond shall be held by the Town for one year after completion of construction or until the streets are accepted by the Town, whichever comes first.
(3) 
Prior to releasing the Town's interest in a performance bond or deposit or covenant, the Board shall receive from the applicant written statements of approval from the Highway Superintendent and the Board of Health or 15 days shall elapse after the applicant's request for said approval without action from such.
(4) 
If the Planning Board determines that said construction or installation has not been completed, it shall specify to the applicant in writing the details wherein said construction and installation fail to comply with these rules and regulations. Upon failure to so specify within 45 days after the Town Clerk has received the applicant's statement of completion, all obligations under the bond shall cease and terminate by operation of law, any deposit shall be returned and any such covenant shall become void. In the event that said forty-five-day period expires without such specification, or without the release and return of the bond or release of the covenant as aforesaid, the Town Clerk shall issue a certificate to such effect, duly acknowledged, which may be recorded.
(5) 
The Board may release from such covenants only those lots for which installation of ways and services has been completed in accordance with these rules and regulations. Refer to Appendix for the proper form to be submitted for release of a lot from a covenant.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: The appendix material is on file at the Planning Board office.