Bill > H4446

This bill establishes a specific procedure for the town of Natick to accept roads built within subdivisions that have already been approved under the subdivision control law, which is a set of regulations governing how land can be divided and developed. The process begins with the town's board of selectmen holding a public hearing after notifying abutters (property owners next to the road) by mail and publishing notice in a local newspaper. The purpose of this hearing is solely to decide if accepting the road as a public way is in the public interest. If the selectmen agree, they will propose an article for the next town meeting to vote on accepting the road. If the town meeting approves by a two-thirds vote, the selectmen will then record an order of acceptance at the county registry of deeds, which will include a description or plan of the road. Once recorded, this order will transfer ownership of a permanent roadway easement, along with associated utility, drainage, and access easements and any improvements within the road, to the town of Natick, and no further compensation will be owed to abutting landowners.