<div dir="ltr">All,<div><br></div><div>I think the situation is simpler than you are making it out to be.</div><div><br></div><div>I think it impossible for one to claim the existence of an easement by necessity across lands all and each of which you own.</div><div><br></div><div>Robert T. Leavens</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 12:37 PM Katrina O'leary via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="gmail-m_-572903444479368327WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Gisela,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would refer to Don Schmidt’s ANR Handbook, Ch. 3:Adequacy of the Way. Specifically, I think you will find PP. 23-26 helpful. <a href="https://masscptc.org/docs/core-docs/anrhandbook.pdf" target="_blank">https://masscptc.org/docs/core-docs/anrhandbook.pdf</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,64,97)">Katrina O'Leary, AICP
<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif">Middleton Town Planner</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(36,64,97)"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif">195 North Main Street Middleton, MA 01949 PH: (978)777-8917<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8pt;color:rgb(36,64,97)">When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and, therefore, cannot be kept confidential.<b><u></u><u></u></b></span></i></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<div style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Gisela Walker via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 9, 2022 11:13 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] 3 ANRs and 'easement by necessity'<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2008 the P Bd approved three ANRs, all having proper lot size and barely enough frontage.<u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now the owner wants to sell them as building lots, and tells us that because of steep banks only one lot can provide access to the other two. His plan shows a curvy short driveway that touches all three lots and he requests an easement
for this shared driveway.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">He quotes " ... your agreement could be based on an <u>“easement by necessity”, which is documented in the Mass General Laws.</u> ..., it states that a legal easement can exist if it is absolutely necessary to cross someone’s land for
a legitimate purpose, i.e., access to their home”<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">In his sample easement agreement he also reserves the right for future subdivision of the lots. <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It seems like a half-baked way to start. Can we at least request that the shared driveway be built to minimum subdivision standards?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Gisela Walker<br>
24 Windy Hill Road<br>
Shelburne Falls MA 01370<br>
413-625-2401 <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
-- <br>
MassPlanners mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<a href="http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org</a><br>
</blockquote></div>