It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to provide proper guidelines and requirements for an environmental impact statement to be filed in conjunction with an application for development requiring the disturbance of more than 5,000 square feet of land area and in support of any other proposed site disturbances within Jefferson Township, as further defined in §
222-4 below.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BOARD
The appropriate administrative authority having jurisdiction
over the particular application pursuant to the ordinances of the
Township of Jefferson. In the case of an application for development,
the review and approval of an environmental impact statement shall
rest with the agency having jurisdiction over the application. Where
there is no specific jurisdiction granted under the Township ordinances,
the review and approval agency in all other cases shall be the Township
Land Use Board.
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28]
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
A description and analysis of all possible direct and indirect
effects that a proposed development will have on the site itself as
well as adjacent and noncontiguous areas, with particular reference
to the effect of the project on the public safety, health and welfare,
the protection of public and private property and the protection,
preservation and enhancement of the natural environment.
SITE
Any plot, parcel or tract of land.
No site shall be disturbed or developed within
the Township of Jefferson by any person, partnership, corporation,
public agency or entity within the municipality unless an environmental
impact statement has been approved by the board in accordance with
the specifications and procedures required by this chapter except
as authored by the appropriate Township official to obtain data necessary
to comply with state, county and municipal requirements. The Township
of Jefferson and other public bodies, including churches, boards of
education and counties, shall abide by this chapter.
The environmental impact statement shall contain
information and analysis with respect to the following:
A. A description of the project, specifying what is to
be carried out, including:
(1) The location of the project.
(2) Its proximity to parks, recreational sites, wildlife
refuges and historic sites.
(3) Existing land use, zoning and Master Plan delineation.
(4) The reason for the project.
B. An inventory of existing environmental conditions
at the project site and in the surrounding region, which shall describe
air quality, water quality, noise, water supply, hydrology, both surface
and subsurface, geology, soils, vegetation (including deciduous trees
of three-inch or greater diameter at breast height), coniferous trees
of four-inch or greater diameter, desirable shrubs and ground covers
worthy of protection, wildlife, aesthetics and historical sites. Water
and air quality are defined in accordance with guidelines and standards
established by the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental
Protection, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The description of soils is to conform with the definition and terminology
used by the Soil Conservation District.
C. An assessment of the probable impact of the project, both adverse and beneficial, on the topics described in Subsection
B above for the purpose of addressing and quantifying in a comprehensive manner the impacts of the development on the criteria above as affected by any local, state or federal standards.
D. Adverse impacts.
(1) Any probable adverse environmental effects, including
but not limited to:
(a)
Diminished water quality.
(d)
Excessive or undesirable illumination of surrounding
areas.
(f)
Damage to or destruction of significant plant
or wildlife systems, as well as to threatened and endangered species
of flora and fauna.
(g)
Damage to aesthetic values.
(h)
Destruction of natural resources.
(i)
Displacement of people and business.
(j)
Destruction of farms used during the last five
years.
(k)
Undesirable effects on employment, property
taxes and municipal services.
(l)
Destruction of man-made resources and damage
to recreational areas.
(m)
Disruption of desirable community and regional
growth.
(n)
Jeopardy to health, safety and well-being of
the public and immediate neighbors.
(p)
Impact on delineated wetlands, both on site
and off site.
(q)
All of the above as it affects an adjoining
municipality.
(2) A summary listing of all adverse impacts for each
specific application shall be provided at the conclusion of the impacts
section of the EIS.
E. A thorough discussion of the steps to be taken, including description and timetable before, during and after construction, both at the project site and in the surrounding area, to minimize the adverse environmental effects as described in Subsection
D above.
F. Alternatives.
(1) Alternatives to the proposed project, including:
(a)
The "no build" situation.
(b)
Other site plan configurations considered (i.e.,
variations in the footprint, orientation of structures, consideration
of setbacks, traffic circulation, etc.).
(2) For each of the above alternatives considered, provide
a rationale for choosing the proposed plan in lieu of all other alternatives.
G. Implications of the proposed action for population
distribution or concentration should be estimated and an assessment
made of any possible change in population patterns upon the area impacted,
including land use, water and public services.
H. A listing of all licenses, permits or other approvals
as required by municipal, county and state law, and the status of
each.
I. A reference list of pertinent published information,
relating to the project, project site and surrounding region, used
in the preparation of the environmental impact statement shall be
submitted.
J. Particular data are required as to:
(1) Sewerage facilities. The applicant must show:
(a)
Compliance with state and local health regulations.
(b)
If disposal is on-site, the applicant is to
include a soil analysis, percolation tests for every five acres and
every building site, location of aquifers, depth and capacity of all
wells within 200 feet of the disposal site and other pertinent data.
(c)
If disposal is off-site, the applicant is to
include data on plant design capacity, capacity of plant to treat
industrial or commercial wastes, when applicable, and any other pertinent
data.
(d)
Flows, existing and future, expected from any
approved subdivision which are dependent upon the same facilities.
(2) Water supply. The applicant must show:
(a)
Compliance with state and local regulations.
(b)
Location and depth of all private and public
water supplies within 200 feet of the realty improvement.
(c)
Location, depth and adequacy of off-site and
on-site private or public water supplies to serve the proposed realty
improvement.
(d)
For realty improvements with more than 50 dwelling
units, it will be necessary to obtain a determination by the Division
of Water Resources that the proposed water supply and sewerage facilities
are adequate.
(e)
For realty improvements with less than 50 dwelling
units, it will be necessary to show that the semipublic water supply
is adequate.
(3) Drainage. The applicant must show:
(a)
The volume of stormwater runoff from the site
and the volume to be generated by new improvements.
(b)
Any increase in the rate of velocity of runoff
and change in drainage patterns.
(c)
Plans for disposition of stormwater, whether
by retention on-site or other means, to protect downstream property.
(d)
Floodplains. A description of potential flood
conditions or damages, including a summary of flood stages from state
and federal sources.
(e)
Proposals for soil erosion and sedimentation
control.
(4) Solid waste disposal. The applicant must submit a
plan for disposal in compliance with the State Sanitary Code.
(5) Energy use. Applicant must submit information on the
utilities' capacity to satisfy needs of development.
(6) Wetlands. Where wetlands are either known or thought
to exist on the subject parcel of interest, the applicant will retain
a wetlands expert to confirm or deny the existence of wetlands on
the site. Where confirmation is found, a letter of interpretation
confirming the delineation of the wetlands on the site is required
to be applied for from the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP).
(7) Noise. The applicant must show:
(a)
Compliance with state and local regulations.
(b)
Sound level generation projected during the
construction phase of the project at neighboring property lines.
(c)
Sound levels associated with stationary and
mobile sources on the site at the neighboring property lines during
the operational phase of the project.
(d)
Analysis, by the applicant, of sound attenuating
capabilities of mitigation provided (i.e., landscaping, solid fencing,
earthen or vegetative berms, sound barriers, etc.).
(8) Fiscal impact analysis. In situations where the applicant
is requesting a variance to either build residential units on parcels
not currently zoned as residential or requesting considerations of
higher densities of residential development than currently permitted
in the residential zone in question, then the applicant must:
(a)
Prepare a fiscal impact analysis which details
the financial benefits (i.e., tax revenue generated) and costs (i.e.,
municipal services, public education, etc.) associated with the proposal.
(b)
The above analysis shall provide total population
and school age population projection figures by recognized sources
(i.e., Center for Urban Research at Rutgers University, etc.).
(9) Traffic analysis. Unless specifically waived by the
board, all applicants must prepare a traffic report in addition to
an environmental impact statement. The traffic report must be prepared
by a licensed professional engineer with a demonstrated background
(i.e., education, professional practice, etc.) in the field of traffic/transportation
engineering.