 This FAQ is intended to assist a person conducting due diligence prior to purchasing land, or purchasing a new or existing home. This is a list of the most frequent topics addressed when considering a real estate transaction. This FAQ is provided as a courtesy by the North Reading Community Planning Department with respect to our area of jurisdiction, and should not be construed as a complete list specific to your situation. Let the buyer beware and be well informed.
Easements
Know and understand the types of property easements frequently found within North Reading that may be imposed on your property. An easement designates the area as non-buildable and may impose additional restrictions on what you can and cannot do within the easement area. This may effect your future plans for additions, pools, or other major structures. Easements are legally binding and are recorded with the Registry of Deeds. The Town or another holder of interest, such as a utility company, may have access and maintenance rights to your property. Typical easements in North Reading include:
» Town Future Road Easements: typically a 50 foot easement to extend roads into undeveloped areas
» Drainage Easements: designated areas that provide drainage for a subdivision
» Power Line Easement: typically a 300 foot major power line easement
» Gas Line Easement: typically an easement for the gas line
» Steep Slope Easement: typically found in the Town road right of way, designated on a lot by lot basis
» Utility Easement: typically found for public water lines, fire hydrants, or other public utilities
» Conservation Easements : to protect sensitive environmental areas
Undeveloped Land Adjacent to Your Property
A very common tale told to potential land/home buyers is that an undeveloped adjacent parcel can never be developed because of <insert reason here>. As the real estate market continues to soar in North Reading, it is HIGHLY unlikely that any parcel would ever be left undeveloped forever. North Reading has taken the long term proactive planning approach to protecting certain areas from development by designating them with an agricultural-preservation-conservation restriction. As such, they are protected by State Law. In recent years, long time farms, and areas considered difficult to build have all been built upon. While one owner may choose to not to develop, their heirs or next owners generally do.
Finding Out Who Owns Adjacent Properties
To find out who owns adjacent properties, contact the Town Tax Assessor at 978-664-60… Visit the Planning Department at Town during normal business hours and obtain a copy (for under $2.00) of the subdivision plan for your property. The copy of the plan contains detailed information about your property including lot lines, house location, driveway, notes any designated easements, and identifies the adjacent lot parcel numbers. Using the adjacent lot parcel numbers, the Tax Assessor can provide you with a list of current abutting land owners.
Cul-De-Sac and Future Road Continuations
It should be noted that many cul-de-sacs in North Reading are considered temporary in nature and that at some point in the future, the road may be extended into an undeveloped parcel.? What once was a closed ended cul-de-sac, may in the future be a normal roadway with multiple entry/exit ways. It is recommended that you find out if your cul-de-sac is temporary or permanent in nature, as it may affect certain lifestyle preferences. Permanent cul-de-sacs are generally land locked or terminated because of natural topology of the land. Temporary cul-de-sacs are ones that may contain a 50 foot future road easement leading into an undeveloped parcel. What lifestyle impact would you experience if a temporary cul-de-sac were extended into an undeveloped parcel Lifestyle considerations may include an increase in traffic, children usage of the street for riding bikes, a possible road name change and/or property renumbering and establishing a new shortcut for commuters.
What resources do I have to become more informed on the town?
There is a wealth of information available on the Internet. Start with the North Reading Home Page at http://www.northreadingma.gov. Free Internet access is available at the North Reading Public Library.
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