A. Purpose: The purpose of this title is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by regulating the subdivision of land; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to lessen congestion in the streets and highways; to provide for adequate light, air, water supply, sewage disposal, parks and recreation areas, ingress and egress, and other public requirements; to require development in harmony with the natural environment; and with the townscape character of the town, to protect the rights of property owners; to promote preservation of open space; to promote development approaches that minimize costs to local citizens and that promote effective and efficient provision of public services; and to require uniform monumentation of land subdivisions and transferring interests in real property by reference to plat or certificate of survey.
B. Intent: Further, to support the purposes of Montana Code Annotated section 76-3-102, this title is intended to promote and to provide for:
1. The orderly development of the town.
2. The coordination of streets within subdivided land with other streets, both existing and planned.
3. The dedication of land for roadways and for public utility easements.
4. The townscape character of the town.
5. The provision of proper physical and legal access, including obtaining of necessary easements.
6. The provision of adequate open spaces for travel, light, air and recreation.
7. The provision of adequate transportation, water, drainage, and sanitary facilities.
8. The avoidance or minimizing of congestion.
9. The avoidance of subdivision which would involve unnecessary environmental degradation.
10. The encouragement of subdivision development in harmony with the natural environment.
11. The avoidance of danger or injury by reason of natural hazard or the lack of water, drainage, access, transportation or other public services.
12. The avoidance of excessive expenditure of public funds for the supply of public services.
13. The manner and form of making and filing of any plat for subdivided lands.
14. The administration of this title by defining the powers and duties of approving authorities including procedures for the review and approval of all plats of subdivisions covered by these provisions.
15. The improvement of roads.
C. Growth Policy: Pursuant to sections 76-1-605 and 76-1-606, Montana Code Annotated, these regulations are intended to implement the town of Manhattan growth policy. These subdivision regulations are also intended to be in accordance with the growth policy. In the case of a difference of meaning or implication between these regulations and the town of Manhattan growth policy, the growth policy shall control the subdivision regulations. The town council may not withhold, deny, or impose conditions on any land use approval or other authority to act based solely on compliance with the town of Manhattan growth policy. (Ord. 08-001, 3-11-2008)