Town of Abington, MA Required Improvements

The entire area of each street or way shall be cleared of all stumps, brush, roots, boulders, like material and all trees not designated for preservation.

The full length and width of the proposed paved surface area shall be excavated or filled, as necessary, to a depth of at least 16 inches below the finished surface for minor and local streets; at least 18 inches for collector streets; and at least 24 inches for arterial streets. However, if the soil is soft and spongy, or contains undesirable material, such as clay, sand pockets, peat, loam or topsoil or stones over six inches in diameter, or any other material detrimental to subgrade, such material shall be removed and replaced with suitable well-compacted material. In no case shall wood of any form be used as fill material within the street right-of-way.

The subbase shall be observed by the Planning Board agent prior to the placement of any gravel base course. (Seventy-two hours' written notice prior to the placement of gravel is requested.) Sufficient grade stakes shall be available to the agent so that the profile can be checked.

Finished base course.

Roadway gravel base course shall be provided with a least 12 inches of compacted thickness. No base course material shall be placed on frozen material. Base course material shall be placed in layers not exceeding eight inches in thickness, and compacted to 95% maximum density at optimum moisture content. This composition shall be certified in writing to the Planning Board agent by a licensed testing firm, at the expense of the developer.

Base course material shall consist of hard durable stone and coarse sand in conformance with MHD standards, having the following gradation:

	Sieve	Percent Passing
	1/2	50 - 85
	No. 4	40 - 75
	No. 40	10 - 35
	No. 200	0 - 10

Maximum size of stone in gravel shall be three inches.

Base course material shall be compacted with no less than a ten-ton roller. The base course shall be placed to the lines and grades indicated on the approved drawing. Any depressions that occur shall be filled with additional gravel and rerolled until the surface is true and even. The base course shall be observed by the Planning Board agent during its placement and just prior to placing the bituminous binder course. A written request for inspection shall be provided to the Planning Board and its agent. The Planning Board agent shall be provided with a testing report noting its acceptability, prior to the placement of pavement. The Board's agent, upon review of the testing report demonstrating acceptable material, will authorize the placement of pavement. Authorization is not a guarantee by the Planning Board that the base course has no defects or deficiencies.

Paved surface.

Paved surfaces shall be constructed for the full length of all streets within the subdivision shown on the plan. The center line of such paved surfaces shall coincide with center line of street rights-of-way unless a minor variance is specifically approved by the Board.

The minimum width of the paved surface shall coincide with the requirements of § 200-19B of these Rules and Regulations or as determined by the Board.

Pavement. Upon receipt of the Planning Board agent's report for the base course, a binder course of bituminous concrete Type I-1 as specified by the Massachusetts Highway Department shall be placed, compacted and rolled to the thickness conforming to the lines and grades indicated on the approved plans. The Planning Board and its agent shall be notified in writing in sufficient time to allow the agent to inspect the placing of the binder course. (Seventy-two hours' written notice prior to the placement of pavement is requested.)

Curbing. Each and every street proposed to be built shall be required to have straight-faced granite (V-4) curbing, (See Appendix D), on both sides of the street for its entire length including all radii regardless of grades. Driveway entrance curbing shall be two-foot minimum length transition granite curbing. All granite curbing shall be installed to the lines and grades as shown on the drawings with a six-inch curb reveal. Transitions for ADA compliant ramps shall be provided as required. All curbing is to be supported on both sides with concrete.

Sidewalk construction. All materials shall be removed for the full width of the sidewalk to a subgrade 12 inches below the finished grade as shown on cross-section; and all soft spots and other undesirable material below such subgrade shall be replaced with good binding gravel material and rolled. This excavated area then shall be filled with eight inches of good quality gravel as specified for finished base course (§ 200-19E), and rolled with a pitch toward the curb of not less than 3/8 inches nor greater than 1/2 inch to the foot. Wood forms shall be set to grade filled with three inches of compacted bituminous concrete to be applied in two courses (two-inch base course compacted and one-inch finish course compacted); provided, however, that if a granolithic surface is desired and/or specified by the Board, specification of the Massachusetts Highway Department shall be complied with. At intersections and elsewhere as necessary sidewalks shall be ramped in accordance with current ADA requirements.

Storm drains and appurtenances.

Storm drains, culverts and related installations, including catch basins, gutters and manholes, shall be installed within the subdivision as necessary to permit unimpeded flow of all natural watercourses, to insure adequate drainage of all low points along streets, to control erosion, and to intercept stormwater runoff along streets at intervals reasonably related to the extent and grade of the area drained. Catch basins shall be required on both sides of the roadway on continuous grade at intervals of not more than 300 feet. Storm drains and culverts shall be no less than 12 inches inside diameter and shall be of greater size when required by design conditions. The type of pipe used shall be reinforced concrete pipe conforming to AASHO-M17O Standard for Class III Pipe Wall B. All pipe 24 inches in diameter or smaller shall be bell and spigot type. Pipe larger than 24 inches in diameter shall be tongue and groove or bell and spigot. Pipe joints shall be thoroughly wet before filling them with cement mortar. The mortar shall be placed around the entire circumference of the pipe. Catch basins shall be constructed in accordance with the applicable portions of Paragraph 201.61 of Section 201, Basins, Manholes and Inlets, of the Massachusetts Highway Department Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges.

In addition, the following specific requirements shall be met:

(a)

Catch basins shall be placed before intersections.

(b)

Distances between manholes should not exceed 300 feet.

(c)

Scour protection in the form of riprap and riprap paving shall be placed at the outfalls of all drain pipes. The riprap apron for all pipes flowing at velocities greater than two feet per second shall extend at least 10 times the nominal diameter of the discharge pipe.

(d)

Velocities in grassed channels shall not exceed four feet per second. Man-made channels flowing at velocities greater than four feet per second and radically curved channel sections shall be paved with stone riprap.

(e)

Manholes with paved inverts will be required for any change in the line or grade of a drain pipe.

(f)

Headwalls or flared end sections shall be required at both ends of culverts and at the discharge ends of storm drains.

(g)

Security bars shall be provided at the entrance to, and exit from, all culverts or open pipe drains over 18 inches in diameter.

(h)

The Rational Method shall be used to determine the runoff flowing to each catch basin and to determine the design flow and velocity of each drain line. Storm drainage calculations shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer (civil).

(i)

Design analysis: A design analysis shall be submitted with each definitive plan submitted for approval. The design analysis shall include the following information. The data shall include consideration of the entire watershed and the calculations used in designing the drainage system including area calculations, intensity of rainfall, coefficient of runoff, time of concentration, discharge, pipe coefficients of roughness, and quantity and velocity of flow under design conditions (not full pipe conditions).

(j)

Storm drains shall be designed to have two feet six inches minimum cover over the pipe. All backfill material shall contain no stone larger than three inches and backfill material shall be placed in eight-inch lifts and compacted.

(k)

Any drain pipe (but not including perimeter cellar drains) connected to the proposed drainage system whose purpose is to drain wet lots must be shown on the definitive subdivision plans, and manholes shall be provided at all such connections. Perimeter cellar drains or sump pumps shall not be connected to an approved street subdrain or drainage system.

(l)

Proper connections shall be made with existing drains. Where, in the opinion of the Board, after consultation with the appropriate Town department, the capacity of an existing drain is inadequate to accommodate the entire subdivision, only that portion thereof which, in their opinion, can be adequately accommodated shall be so connected.

(m)

Storm drains shall be designed on a basis of the ten-year storm event and shall be such as to insure a rate of flow of not less than 2 1/2 feet per second nor more than 10 feet per second under design conditions (not full pipe). No drains shall be backfilled until they have been observed by the Planning Board's agent.

(n)

Where adjacent property is not subdivided, provisions shall be made for extension of the utility systems by continuing appropriately sized drains to the exterior boundaries of the subdivision, at such size and grade as will allow for their proper projection. Such drains shall be capped.

Manholes and catch basins.

Manholes and catch basins shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements detailed in Appendix D.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Appendix D is included at the end of this chapter.

Manholes or headwalls for drain lines over 30 inches in diameter shall be constructed in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Highway Department book of construction standards.

Frames and covers shall conform to the shape and size of castings as shown in E. L. LeBaron catalog, Item LK 110A, cut with three-inch letters (Drain), or approved equal.

Frames and Grates shall conform to the shape and size of castings as shown in E. L. LeBaron Catalog item LK-120A (three flange) or LK-120B (four flange), or approved equal.

(5)

No drainage structures shall be backfilled until they have been observed by the Planning Board's agent. The approval of equals shall be approved in writing by the Planning Board's agent.

Setting of manholes, catch basins, and water gates. All manhole, catch basin and water gate rims shall be set at subgrade elevations flush with the bituminous concrete binder course until such time as the roadway is approved for installation of the bituminous concrete wearing course. At that time the manhole, catch basin and water gate rims shall be adjusted to finish grade, with concrete collars being placed.

Subdrains. Where side slopes are steep and where soils are poorly drained (especially in clay or semi-impervious soils) the Board, after consulting with its agent, may require a subdrain be provided on both or one side of the roadway depending on site conditions. See the requirements for subdrain construction detailed in Appendix D.

Water.

NOTE: Developers are directed to contact the Water Department early in the approval process to insure the availability of water capacity to service the proposed subdivision.

Water pipes and related equipment and materials such as hydrants, main shutoff valves and laterals shall be installed to serve all lots on each street in the subdivision in conformity with the rules and regulations set by the Abington Water Department.

Connection to existing Town water facilities to assure adequate supply shall be the responsibility of the developer.

Hydrant locations are to be approved in writing by the Fire Department. No water service shutoffs are to be allowed in proposed driveways.

Sewerage.

NOTE: Developers are directed to contact the Sewer Department early in the approval process to insure the availability of sewer capacity to service the proposed subdivision.

Unless otherwise determined by the Sewer Department sewer lines shall be installed and lots connected to the public sewerage system. Furthermore, unless otherwise determined by the Sewer Department sewer lines shall be installed for future connection to the public sewer system where capacity is not currently available.

If public sewerage connections are not required according to the above, the applicant shall install private on-lot systems.

Where public sewers are required, the following design standards shall apply:

(a)

Public sewers shall be designed according to accepted professional engineering practices and the specific requirements of the Abington Sewer Department.

(b)

Public sewers shall be not less than eight inches in diameter.

(c)

Manholes shall be located at every change in grade of horizontal alignment but not more thin 300 feet apart. The use of sewage pumping facilities shall only be allowed in accordance with Town specifications and at the discretion of the Sewer Commissioners, the Board of Health, and the Water Department.

(d)

If the applicant is required to provide other than public sewerage, the design and construction of private on-lot sewerage systems shall conform with and be subject to the approval of the Abington Board of Health.

(e)

Cellar drains or sump pumps shall not be connected to the public sewerage system or to the in-street drainage system or subdrains.

Utilities. All utilities shall be placed underground unless otherwise approved by the Board. (Sewer, water, drain, gas, electric, telephone, fire alarm, cable TV).

Retaining walls. Retaining walls should be avoided and shall be installed only where deemed necessary by the Board and shall comply with specifications set forth in Massachusetts Highway Department "Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges, "as amended. The design of retaining walls shall be prepared by a professional structural engineer and be shown on the approved plans. When allowed adjacent to a sidewalk, the retaining walls shall be provided with appropriate fencing and railing in accordance with the latest State Building Code.

Fire alarm system. There shall be installed within a subdivision development a sufficient number of fire alarm boxes. The type, number and location are to be established in writing by the Chief of the Abington Fire Department, prior to approval. Fire alarm boxes shall be installed prior to the occupancy of any dwellings within the subdivision.

Shade trees. Such trees as are suitable, in the opinion of the Tree Warden, for preservation shall be preserved. Where, in the opinion of the Tree Warden, existing trees are inadequate, shade trees having a caliper of 3 1/2 inches at 18 inches above the soil line and of a suitable variety as approved by the Tree Warden shall be planted at the rate of at least three per house lot. Evidence of the Tree Warden's approval in writing shall be filed with the Planning Board by the applicant. The following note shall be placed on the definitive lot sheet: "Shade trees shall be located in a ten-foot-wide permanent tree planting easement adjacent and parallel to the street layout line. The tree planting easement is for the purpose of planting, maintaining or replacing a minimum of three trees per lot for the benefit of the developer, his assigns and successors."

Planting strip. There shall be planting strips as required in § 200-19B and as shown on the typical cross section in Appendix D. Said area shall be surfaced with not less than six inches of quality loam which shall be seeded, fertilized, limed and rolled and protected from damage or erosion until there is a satisfactory stand of grass to the satisfaction of the Board.

Street signs. Street name signs shall be furnished by the applicant and erected at all street intersections prior to the occupancy of any building on the street. Street names, street signs, and their placement shall be approved by the Fire Department and the Highway Department.

Stop signs. Stop signs shall be installed at all intersections within the subdivision, and at the intersection of the subdivision streets with Town ways as required by the Planning Board and approved by the Police Department. Stop signs shall be installed prior to the occupancy of any building on the street.

Streetlights. Streetlights shall be installed as required by the Selectmen after consultation with the Police Department and the Fire Department. If not specified by these Departments the Planning Board will determine the locations. Streetlighting shall be provided by the developer before the first house is occupied. The construction and operating costs of said lights are to be borne by the developer until acceptance of the street as a public way or two years from the final completion of the subdivision, whichever is earlier. Streetlighting is normally required at all intersections.

Guardrails. Guardrails conforming to MHD standards shall be installed as required by the Planning Board. The type, size and location of guardrails shall be determined by the Planning Board after consultation with the Highway Department and Police Department.

Monuments.

Granite bounds shall be placed at the beginning and end of all curves, at all intersections of streets, at easements and at such other places as may be required by the Board. On any curve with a tangent distance of over 500 feet, intermediate bounds shall be set at intervals of 250 feet measured from one end of the curve. Bounds shall be of sound granite, not less than 36 inches long and not less than five-inch square. A one-half-inch drill hole shall be accurately placed at the top of each bound.

The setting of the bounds shall be supervised and certified as to their installation by a registered land surveyor. No permanent bounds shall be installed until all construction which would disturb or destroy the bounds is completed. If a driveway is installed in an area of a proposed monument, the monument shall be set and the driveway patched.

Upon completion of setting the required number of bounds, a written certification shall be delivered to the Board from a registered land surveyor or engineer stating that they have been placed with drill holes in accordance with the locations shown on the approved plans.

Lot markers. Lot markers in the form of capped one-half-inch rebar shall be installed on all lot lines within a subdivision. Said markers shall be driven to a point three feet minimum below grade and set flush to finished grade.

Construction details. In the event of any question as to construction details, specifications for the composition of material, workmanship, and the method of applying materials the latest standards of the Massachusetts Highway Department shall apply in each instance.

AA.

Cleaning up. Before sale of a lot, the subdivider shall clean up any debris within the layout caused by street construction and installation of utilities. All areas within a street layout destroyed or altered in construction operations shall be restored as to vegetation or other finish satisfactory to the Board.

BB.

Safety.

All precautions should be taken by the developer and his subcontractors to observe common sense safety requirements. The Board designates the Health Agent, Building Inspector, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Highway Superintendent and/or the Planning Board's agent to report all unsafe activities in preparation of the subdivision to the Board.

The Town of Abington assumes no responsibility for construction site safety, which shall remain the liability of the developer and their subcontractors.

CC.

Maintenance of roadways including utilities and easements.

The subdivider shall be responsible for maintaining all roads and other improvements in a subdivision for a period of two years after the final release of a performance bond or covenant as required in Article III herein, or until the roads are accepted by the Town Meeting, whichever time is shorter. Maintenance shall include the responsibility for streetlighting, snow plowing and sanding all streets within the subdivision as well as the cleaning of all drainage and stormwater management facilities.

To assure such responsibility the subdivider shall guarantee the maintenance of the roads in a subdivision to the satisfaction of the Planning Board and the Highway Department by posting with the Town adequate surety as determined by the Board.