[Massplanners] Maintenance of Common Spaces

[Jeff Lacy]

In fact, Subdivision Control Law prohibits town from requiring that subdivision roadways become public. Default is they stay private. PB can set them up as private with homeowner maintenance requirements; and unless developer or homeowners successfully petition town meeting to accept the road, it’ll stay private. Zero chance of that in my town where all subdivision roads have remained private.

Jeff Lacy 
Rural Planning Associates 
(413) 230-9693

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 10, 2023, at 1:38 PM, Barbara Carboni via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Fiona,
>  
> Is there a reason these newly-created ways must be accepted by the Town ?  A subdivision approval can specify that the roadways and other common areas shall remain private and shall be maintained by the developer until lots sold and then HOA.
>  
> Barbara
>  
> Barbara Carboni  AICP
> Truro Town Planner and Land Use Counsel
> (508) 214 0928
>  
> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Fiona Coughlan via MassPlanners
> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:55 AM
> To: massplanners at masscptc.org
> Subject: [Massplanners] Maintenance of Common Spaces
>  
> Hello MassPlanners,
>  
> In recent months, additional maintenance created by new subdivisions and other types of development have put a strain on our Town’s DPW. The common areas that fall within what is, or will become, Town property when the private way becomes public is becoming such an issue that our TA’s office has issued a new policy. The issue is poised to worsen with the upcoming growth we are seeing.  
>  
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how to enforce something like this and best practices for our regulatory boards? We wish to keep Grafton beautiful, but don’t’ have the human capital, budget, or equipment.  
>  
> Should the options simply be: 1) that residents maintain the areas themselves; or 2) that there should be a HOA fee (or something similar) written into the conditions to fund future landscape maintenance?
>  
> Thanks,
>  
>  
>  
> 
>  
> Fiona Coughlan, AICP
> Town Planner
> Planning Department
> Town of Grafton
> 508-839-5335 x 1402
> coughlanf at grafton-ma.gov
> Website: Grafton-ma.gov
> Facebook: Town of Grafton, MA
> Twitter: @TownofGraftonMA
>  
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