[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Carroll as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building permits — See Ch. 92.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 216.
Street excavations — See Ch. 220, Art. I.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 225.
Zoning — See Ch. 260.
[Adopted 6-27-1974 by Ord. No. 51 (Ch. 9, Part 1, of the 1987 Code)]
This article shall be deemed to be an exercise of the police power of the Township of Carroll, for the general welfare of the people of the Township, by providing for the conservation and improvement of areas of land affected in the surface mining of bituminous coal and metallic and nonmetallic minerals, to aid thereby in the protection of wildlife, to enhance the value of such land for taxation, to decrease soil erosion, to aid in the prevention of the pollution of rivers and streams, and generally to improve the use and enjoyment of said lands.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Ordinance of Carroll Township."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated herein:
ABANDONED
An operation where no mineral has been produced or overburden removed for a period of one year, verified by monthly reports submitted to the Department by the operator and by inspections made by mine conservation inspectors, as hereinafter constituted, unless an operator within 30 days after receipt of notification by the Secretary terming an operation abandoned submits sufficient evidence to the Secretary that the operation is in fact not abandoned.[1]
COMMISSION
The State Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
CONTOURING
Reclamation achieved by beginning at or beyond the top of the high wall sloped to the toe of the spoil bank at a maximum angle not to exceed the approximate original contour of the land, with no depressions to accumulate water.
DEGREE
From the horizontal, and in each case shall be subject to a tolerance of 5°.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection.
LAND
The surface of the land upon which surface mining is conducted.
LAND AFFECTED
The land from which the mineral is or minerals are removed and that occupied by the spoil piles.
LANDOWNER
The person, firm, corporation or partnership or the persons, firms, corporations or partnerships in whom the legal title to the land is vested.
OPERATION
The pit located upon a single tract of land or a continuous pit embracing or extending upon two or more contiguous tracts of land.
OPERATOR
A person, firm, corporation or partnership engaged in surface mining as a principal, as distinguished from an agent or independent contractor, and who is or becomes the owner of the minerals as a result of such mining.
OVERBURDEN
The strata or material overlying a mineral deposit or in between mineral deposits in its natural state and shall mean such material before or after its removal by surface mining.
PIT
The place where any coal or metallic and nonmetallic minerals are being mined by the surface mining method.
SECRETARY
The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SPOIL PILE
The overburden and reject minerals as piled or deposited in surface mining.
SURFACE MINING
The mining or recovery of bituminous and anthracite coal and metallic and nonmetallic minerals or any combination of the above by removing the strata or material which overlies or is above or in between the materials listed above in its natural condition or the mining or recovery of the entire mineral body requiring the breaching of the surface for business or commercial purposes.
TERRACING
Grading where the steepest contour of the high wall shall not be greater than 45° from the horizontal, with the table portion of the restored area a flat terrace, unless otherwise approved by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
TRACT
A single parcel of land or two or more contiguous parcels of land with common ownership.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
After June 27, 1974, it shall be unlawful for any person to proceed to mine minerals by the surface mining method as an operator within this Township without first obtaining a license as a surface mining operator from the Township. Applications for licensure as surface mining operators shall be made in writing to the Township upon forms prepared and furnished by the Township and shall contain such information as to the applicant or, when the application is made by a corporation, partnership or association, as to its officers, directors and principal owners as the Township shall require. The application for licensure shall be accompanied by a fee of $100. The application for renewal of a license as a surface mining operator shall be made annually on or before January 1 of the next succeeding year.
B. 
The Township shall not issue any new surface mining operator's license or renew any existing surface mining operator's license to any person or operator if it finds, after investigation, that the applicant for licensure or renewal has previously failed and continues to fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article. Where the applicant is a corporation, partnership or association, the Township shall not issue such license or renewal if, after investigation, it finds that any officer or director continues to fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article or if any such officer or director or principal owner is or has been an officer or director or principal owner of any other corporation, partnership or association which has previously failed and continues to fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article.
A. 
Before any person licensed as a surface mining operator shall hereafter proceed to mine minerals by the surface mining method, he shall obtain from all federal and state agencies such permits as may from time to time be then required for all such agencies.
B. 
Each application for a license shall be accompanied by a detailed proposal showing the manner by which the operator plans to return the land to some useful purpose after the operation in completed, together with a time schedule for same. If in the mining operation overburden is produced, this overburden must be returned so that the surface is returned to its approximate original contour as defined in this article, or if the original contour has a slope greater than 15°, the overburden may be returned so that terracing type of contour will be obtained. In such cases, the detailed proposal of restoration must show the time and distance for backfilling, the manner in which the operator plans to divert surface water from draining into the pit and the manner in which he plans to prevent water from accumulating in the pit. If the above contour or terracing reclamation information is obtained to the satisfaction of the Township, it may approve the application or it may refer it to the Planning Commission. The Township may approve terracing; provided, however, that the approved contour of the high wall shall be no greater than 45° and there shall be no depressions to hold water which may percolate through the soil and produce acid drainage. The approval of such contouring shall in no way be construed as reducing the responsibilities of the operator to prevent stream pollution.
C. 
The Township shall not issue any additional permits to any operator who has failed or continues to fail to comply with the provisions of this article under any license previously issued and shall suspend all existing licenses until compliance.
D. 
When the requirements of this article are met and no claims are outstanding under this article against the operator or, in the case of any corporation, against any officer or director, a permit shall issue forthwith.
E. 
If the Township does not approve the application for a permit or an amended permit, it shall promptly notify the operator by registered mail setting forth its reasons therefor. The operator may then take such steps as are required to remove the objections.
F. 
Prior to commencing surface mining, the operator shall file with the Township a bond for each operation on a form to be prescribed and furnished by the Township, payable to the Township, and conditioned that the operator shall faithfully perform all of the requirements of this article. The amount of the bond required for each operation shall be dependent upon the overburden and the contour, the depth of the pit and the type of land reclamation approved and shall be as determined by the Township, but such bond shall not be less than $750 for each acre up to 30 feet cover, nor more than $1,500 per acre for 30 feet or more cover, based upon the number of acres of land in each operation (which will be affected by surface mining during the following year), provided that no bond shall be filed for less than $5,000. Liability under such bond shall be for the duration of surface mining at each operation and for a period of two years thereafter, unless released prior thereto as hereinafter provided. Such bond shall be executed by the operator and a corporate surety licensed to do business in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the operator may elect to deposit cash or negotiable bonds of the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the General State Authority, the State Public School Building Authority, or any municipality within the commonwealth with the Township in lieu of a corporate surety. The operator shall immediately place the deposit of cash or securities with the Township Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to receive and hold the same in the name of the Township in trust for the purposes for which such deposit is made. The Township Treasurer shall at all times be responsible for the custody and safekeeping of such deposits. The operator making the deposit shall be entitled from time to time to demand and receive from the Township Treasurer, on the written order of the Township, the whole or any portion of any securities so deposited upon depositing with him, in lieu thereof, other negotiable securities of the classes herein specified having a market value at least equal to the sum of the bond, and also to demand, receive and recover the interest and income from said securities as the same becomes due and payable; provided, however, that where securities deposited as aforesaid mature or are called the Township Treasurer, at the request of the operator, shall convert such securities into such other negotiable securities of the kind herein specified as may be designated by the operator.
G. 
Prior to commencing any surface mining, the operator shall obtain, upon an approved application, a permit authorizing transportation of such minerals, metallic and nonmetallic, over Township roads. This permit shall be issued only upon a clear showing that no damage whatsoever of any nature or kind shall occur to the Township roads and/or bridges as a result of transporting said materials. In the event the Township, at its sole discretion, determines that damage could occur to said roadways, then by resolution the Township shall secure a bond from the operator to cover said roadways and to cover any bridges affected thereby. The Township shall determine the amount of bond upon each and every application, taking into consideration construction, design and materials of the highways and bridges affected.
All blasting shall be conducted in compliance with rules and regulations of any and all state and federal regulatory agencies.
Any authorized agent of the Township shall have the right to enter upon and inspect all surface mining operations for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this article, including compliance with rules and regulations of state and federal agencies regulating blasting.
Within six months after the operation is completed or abandoned, the operator shall reclaim all land in accordance with the plan previously approved by the Township. An operator may, with the written approval of the landowner, propose alternative plans for reclamation wherein the land can be used for suitable purposes consistent with the exercise of the police power as set forth in § 138-1 of this article. Such plans are to be submitted to the Township, and if such plans are approved by the Township and complied with within the times herein prescribed for reclamation and planting, or such other time limits as may be agreed upon as being reasonable for carrying out such plans, the reclamation and planting requirements will be waived by the Township. Whenever reasonable and practicable, the Township shall require reclamation and planting as the surface mining progresses. All reclamation shall be completed before necessary reclamation equipment is moved from the operation. Within three months after the reclamation is completed, the operator shall file with the Township a completion form on a form prescribed and furnished by the Township.
Within one year after the operation has been reclaimed in compliance with the plan earlier submitted, the operator shall plant trees, shrubs or grasses upon the land affected by surface mining; provided, however, that the operator shall be relieved from the obligation to plant trees, shrubs or grasses required by this section if the Township shall find as a fact that such planting is not reasonable, practicable or likely to succeed.
If the operator fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this article in any respect for which liability has been charged on the bond, the Township shall declare such portion of the bond forfeited and shall certify the same to the Township Solicitor, who shall proceed to enforce and collect the amount of liability forfeited thereon, and where the operation has deposited cash or securities as collateral in lieu of a corporate surety, the Township shall declare such portion of said collateral forfeited and shall direct the Township Treasurer to pay said funds to the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund or to proceed to sell said securities to the extent forfeited and pay the proceeds thereof into the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund.
All funds received by the Township from forfeiture of bonds and of cash deposits and securities shall be held by the Township Treasurer in a special fund, separate and apart from all other monies in the Township Treasury, to be known as the "Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund," and which shall be used by the Township for the purpose of the foresting or reclaiming of land affected by surface mining of any coal or metallic and nonmetallic minerals or for any other conservation purposes.
[Amended 9-1-1987 by Ord. No. 85; 9-10-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-6]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a civil fine in an amount of not less than $100 nor more than $600 in addition to costs and attorneys' fees. Every day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense. The fine shall be payable to the Township Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund.
In lieu of the forms that an operator is required to submit to the Township, the Township may, at its discretion, accept similar-type forms as may be required to be filed with the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Secretary of that Department.
[Adopted 9-1-1987 by Ord. No. 85 (Ch. 9, Part 2, of the 1987 Code)]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Grading Control Ordinance," implementing Title 25, Environmental Protection, Part I, Department of Environmental Protection, Subpart C, Protection of Natural Resources, Article II, Water Resources, Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control.
The purposes of this article are to regulate the modification of the natural terrain, the alteration of drainage, and to provide for certain erosion and sediment control measures within the Township to assure and safeguard health, safety, ecology and the general welfare in the Township of Carroll.
From and after the effective date of this article, any subdivision and/or land development approved under Chapter 225, Subdivision and Land Development; Chapter 260, Zoning; or activity qualified under §§ 138-18 and 138-19 herein shall be in conformity with this article. In the event of a conflict between this article and the floodplain regulations, the floodplain regulations shall take precedent.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
ALLUVIAL SOILS
An azonal great group of soils, developed from transported and relatively recently deposited material (alluvium), characterized by a weak modification (or none) of the original material by soil-forming processes.
CUT AND/OR FILL
Process of earthmoving by excavating part of an area and/or using excavated material for embankments or fill areas.
EROSION
A. 
The wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice, chemical or other geological agents.
B. 
Detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity.
GRADE
A. 
The slope of a road, channel or natural ground;
B. 
The finished surface of a canal bed, roadbed, top of embankment or bottom of excavation; any surface prepared for the support of construction like paving or laying a conduit; or
C. 
To finish the surface of a canal bed, roadbed, top of embankment or bottom of excavation.
RUNOFF (HYDRAULICS)
That portion of the precipitation on a drainage area or watershed that is discharged from the area in stream channels; types include surface runoff, groundwater runoff, or seepage.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity or ice and has come to rest on the earth's surface either above or below sea level.
SLOPE
Degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees.
SOIL DRAINAGE
A condition of the soil referring to the frequency and duration of periods when the soil is free of saturation.
WATERCOURSE
A natural drainage route or channel for the flow of water.
Whenever the landscape is to be permanently disturbed as to either contours, soil or slope characteristics, or vegetation or any ground cover is to be permanently removed, a plan is required showing how resulting erosion and sediment shall be controlled.
A. 
This plan shall include the following:
(1) 
The amount of site alteration proposed;
(2) 
Development schedule; and
(3) 
Erosion and sediment control practices (both temporary and permanent) and the operation and maintenance arrangements.
B. 
The erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be submitted to the Conservation District of Washington County for review and approval.
[Added 3-5-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-1]
The following activities require a grading permit:
A. 
Modifying, disturbing, blocking, diverting or otherwise adversely affecting the natural overland or subsurface flow of stormwater;
B. 
Construction, erection or installation of any drainage dam, ditch, culvert, drainpipe, bridge or any other structure or obstruction affecting the drainage of any premises;
C. 
Paving, filling, stripping, excavating, grading or regrading of any land; and
D. 
Disturbing the landscape, vegetation or any ground cover by any proposal involving an area in excess of 5,000 square feet.
The following activities require no grading permit:
A. 
Improvements, such as erection of retaining walls, driveway paving, minor regrading or activities on a property which do not adversely affect the natural overland or subsurface flow of stormwater, drainage of any premises, or adversely disturb the landscape, in a gross area of up to 25 acres on any one property.
B. 
Farming, gardening or lawn restoration, but not including sod farming.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation proposing to engage in an activity requiring a grading permit hereunder shall apply by the submission of a plan.
B. 
The applicant should, before submitting a preliminary plan for review, consult Chapter 260, Zoning, the floodplain regulations and Chapter 225, Subdivision and Land Development, which regulate the development of land in the Township.
C. 
A separate plan shall be required for each grading permit.
D. 
Five copies of the proposed plan, including specifications and development schedules, shall be submitted to the Secretary for a grading permit. The Secretary shall forward one copy of the plan to the Planning Commission, one copy to the Township Engineer and one copy to the Zoning Officer.
E. 
The plan for a grading permit shall be accompanied by a fee established in the Board of Supervisors' schedule of fees and collection procedure for all applications and other matters pertaining to Chapter 225, Subdivision and Land Development, and this article.
The plan for a grading permit shall include:
A. 
A valid boundary line survey of the site on which the work is to be performed;
B. 
A description of the features, existing and proposed, surrounding the site, which are of importance to the proposed development;
C. 
A plan of the general topography (including drainage) and soil conditions on the site (latter available through the County Conservation District);
D. 
The location and a description of existing and future man-made features of importance to the proposed development (i.e., cuts and/or fills, buildings, roads and driveways); and
E. 
Plans and specifications of soil erosion and sediment control measures in accordance with standards and specifications of the Township and the County Conservation District. A letter of acceptance from the Conservation District of Washington County shall be required for the specific project before a grading permit will be issued.
[Amended 3-5-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-1]
F. 
A development schedule indicating the anticipated starting and completion dates of the development sequence and the time of exposure of each area prior to the completion of effective erosion and sediment control measures.
In addition to the requirements of § 138-22, and where deemed necessary by the Township Engineer and the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors, the applicant shall submit with the plan a detailed drainage study prepared by a registered professional engineer qualified in hydrology in the commonwealth. This study shall include:
A. 
A plan of the property showing the location of all present and proposed ditches, streams, pipes and other drainage structures and proposed cuts and/or fills. In addition to showing present elevations and dimensions and location and extent of all proposed grading and/or drainage, the plan shall clearly indicate all woodlands, buildings, parking areas and driveways. Further, the plan shall indicate the present and proposed sources, storage and disposition of water being channeled through or across the premises, together with elevations, gradients and maximum flow rates. The plan shall describe the work to be performed and disposition of cut and/or fill, the materials to be used and the manner or method of performance, including provisions for protecting and maintaining existing drainage facilities, whether on public or private property. The applicant shall also supply the supporting data for the plan as developed by the engineer.
B. 
Calculations to determine runoff, which shall be based on the Soil-Cover-Complex Method, a description of which is available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and outlined in the "Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Washington County, Pennsylvania."
(1) 
The design criteria for storm sewer piping on inlet systems within a subdivision being developed shall be designed for a twenty-five-year frequency storm; culverts across roadways shall be designed for a fifty-year frequency storm; open watercourses or swales shall be designed for a one-hundred-year frequency storm, as prescribed in accordance with the following:
(a) 
The coefficient of runoff used for all areas upstream of any drainage structure shall be computed on the basis of existing land use and the projected land use described and shown on the Township Comprehensive Plan, and adjacent municipalities comprehensive plans where applicable.
(2) 
The following provisions apply to the carrying and disposal of stormwater runoff:
(a) 
All drainage facilities shall be designed to carry surface water in such a manner as to prevent erosion or overflow.
(b) 
The applicant shall agree to the granting and recording of easements covering the installation and maintenance of drainage facilities.
(c) 
The rate of runoff shall be no greater during and after a one-hundred-year frequency storm when the development is completed than that which existed before the development began, and appropriate measurements or calculations shall be provided to verify such provisions.
C. 
A soils investigation report, if load-bearing fill is proposed, which shall consist of test borings, laboratory testings and engineering analysis to correlate surface and subsurface conditions with the proposed grading plan. The results of the investigation shall be presented in a report by a registered professional soils engineer and shall include: data regarding the nature, distribution and supporting ability of existing soils and rocks on the site, conclusions and recommendations to ensure stable soil conditions and groundwater control, as applicable. The Township may require such supplemental reports and data as is deemed necessary by the Township Engineer. Recommendations included in such reports and approved by the Municipal Engineer shall be incorporated in the plan or specifications. In addition:
(1) 
Fills toeing out on natural slopes steeper than four horizontal to one vertical shall not be made unless a report is received which is deemed acceptable by the Township Engineer and approved by the Board of Supervisors. The report shall be made by a registered professional soils engineer certifying that he has investigated the property, made soils tests and that, in his opinion, such steeper slopes will safely support the proposed fill.
(2) 
Natural and/or existing slopes exceeding five horizontal to one vertical shall be benched or continuously stepped into competent materials prior to placing all classes of fill.
Upon the approval of the plan by the Township Engineer, the Zoning Officer shall issue the necessary grading permit.
A. 
Notwithstanding any provision of this article or any condition of the grading permit, the permittee is responsible for the prevention of damage to other property or personal injury which may be effected by the activity requiring a grading permit.
B. 
No person, firm or corporation shall modify, fill, excavate, pave, grade or regrade land in any manner so close to a property line as to endanger or damage any adjoining street, alley or any other public or private property without supporting and protecting such property from settling, cracking, erosion, sediment, flooding or any other physical damage or personal injury which might result.
C. 
No person, firm or corporation shall deposit or place any debris or any other material whatsoever or cause such to be thrown or placed in any drainage ditch or drainage structure in such a manner as to obstruct free flow.
D. 
No person, firm or corporation shall fail to adequately maintain, in good operating order, any drainage facility on his premises. All drainage ditches, culverts, drainpipes and drainage structures shall be kept open and free-flowing at all times.
E. 
The owner of any property on which any work has been done pursuant to a grading permit granted under this article shall continuously maintain and repair all graded surfaces and anti-erosion devices, retaining walls, drainage structures or means and other protective devices, plantings and ground cover installed or completed. The Township is responsible for maintenance and repair within the right-of-way of municipal roads.
F. 
All graded surfaces shall be permanently seeded, sodded and/or planted or otherwise protected from erosion within 30 days, weather permitting, and shall be tended and/or maintained until growth is well established. The disturbed area and duration of exposure shall be kept to a minimum using temporary erosion and sediment control measures immediately, as outlined in the "Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Washington County, Pennsylvania."
G. 
All trees in an area of extreme grade change shall be protected with suitable tree wells, unless the necessity for removal is established. Precautions shall be taken to prevent the unnecessary removal of trees.
H. 
When required, adequate provisions shall be made for dust-control measures as are deemed acceptable by the Township Engineer.
I. 
All plans and specifications dealing with erosion and sedimentation control must meet the standards and specification of Chapter 102 of the Clean Streams Law, Title 25 Pa. Code § 102.1 et seq., and the regulations as set forth in the Department of Environmental Protection's publication "Erosion and Sedimentation Pollution Control Program Manual."
[Amended 3-5-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-1]
J. 
A quality control program is critical for fills; therefore, wherever fill material is to be used, the person, firm or corporation shall be responsible for testing to determine its dry density as per ASTM D1556. The density of each layer shall be not less than 95% of maximum density as determined by ASTM D1557.
(1) 
Inspection procedure shall follow the general procedure as stated in § 138-26.
(2) 
Compaction test reports shall be kept on file at the site and be subject to review at all times.
(3) 
Degree of compaction required shall be determined by the Township Engineer following the guidelines in this section.
A. 
All inspections shall be the responsibility of the Township Engineer or, in his absence, a qualified person acceptable to the Township Engineer and the Township of Carroll.
B. 
Inspections will be carried out on a random basis, except as stated below. However, a set of as-built plans shall be on file at the site and authenticated by a registered professional engineer. When it is deemed acceptable to the Township Engineer, a designated qualified person may authenticate the as-built plans and will assume full responsibility for the quality of work.
C. 
Any and all as-built plans shall be available on the site at all times and be subject to inspection and inquiry.
D. 
Engineering check notes shall accompany all as-built plans which involve structural or mechanical measures and shall serve as supporting evidence that structures meet design standards and specifications specified herein.
E. 
A final inspection shall be conducted by the Township Engineer to certify compliance with this article. Satisfactory compliance with this article shall be necessary before issuance of an occupancy or use permit.
F. 
The Conservation District of Washington County will conduct routine inspections as authorized by the DEP and the Clean Streams Law of Pennsylvania.[1] Further, at the request of the Conservation District of Washington County or the DEP, after repeated violations and failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the Clean Streams Law, the Township may revoke the grading and building permits until all violations have been remedied to the satisfaction of said District and the DEP.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
Permittees shall bear all costs of inspections required or permitted hereunder and shall deposit with the Township such sum as the Board of Supervisors shall determine to guarantee payment of the costs of such inspections. The costs of inspections shall be in accordance with the established schedule of fees and collection procedure for matters pertaining to this article.
The fee for a grading permit shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors from time to time.
[Amended 9-10-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-6]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a civil fine in an amount of not less than $100 nor more than $600 in addition to costs and attorneys' fees. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.
In addition to the penalties as set forth in § 138-29, any movement of the landscape, vegetation, or any ground cover performed in violation of this article shall be restored to its previous condition, including replacement of excavated earth, removal of illegally placed fill, and restoration of grades and planting.