Castle Estates, Inc. v. Park and Planning Bd. of Medfield

In Castle Estates, Inc. v. Park and Planning Bd. of Medfield, 344 Mass. 329, 334, 182 N.E.2d 540 (1962), the SJC found that the rules and regulations at issue, see Castle Estates, 344 Mass. at 330 n.2, did not support the condition in the planning board decision that required the subdivision water system to be connected to the public water supply system. Id. at 334. The SJC found that the subdivision regulations at issue were "too vague and general to inform owners about the standards which they must meet" because they lacked "explicit provisions permitting the board to require that subdivision plans in any area or areas shall contain provisions for connecting to town water or obtaining drainage easements." Id. at 334. The Court reasoned that "the planning board . . . cannot impose conditions . . . where it has not included (or incorporated by reference to other regulatory provisions) in its regulations more explicit provisions." Id.