[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Northampton 4-5-2001
(Ch. 14, § 14-22, of the 1977 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate activities which the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts allows cities and towns to regulate and prohibit under MGL
c. 40, § 21, Paragraph 17, as the same may be amended from time
to time. This chapter is enacted in order to regulate, rather than prohibit,
such activities, by requiring those persons, corporations or other legal entities
who engage in such activities to obtain a permit from the Earth Removal Enforcement
Officer of the City of Northampton.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following
definitions:
The removal of topsoil, stone, gravel, soil, loam, sand or other
earth material by use of hand tools.
The removal of more than 10 cubic yards of topsoil, stone, gravel,
soil, loam, sand, or other earth material.
Stone which was deposited by glaciers, which is already in small
(less than six feet by six feet) pieces.
The removal of topsoil, stone, gravel, soil, loam, sand, or other
earth materials by means of hydraulic drilling, hammering, ball dropping or
other means of heavy-impacting extraction technology.
Any person, corporation or entity, who attempts to obtain a permit under
this chapter which permit is denied by the Earth Removal Enforcement Officer.
Any person, corporation or other entity that is subjected to a fine,
or cease-and-desist order, by the Earth Removal Enforcement Officer.
Any person, corporation or entity that owns land located within 500
feet of any boundary of land where earth removal action requiring a permit
occurs.
Removal from the crust of the earth.
A calendar year, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31.
A.
The following activities do not require a permit from
the Earth Removal Enforcement Officer:
(2)
Earth removal actions (of less than 10 cubic yards of
earth) in the aggregate on one acre of land in one year.
(3)
Earth removal action which is in accordance with a valid special permit issued by the Northampton Planning Board, as provided by Chapter 350, Zoning.
(4)
Earth removal action which is completed in accordance
with a valid permit issued by the Northampton Department of Public Works.
(5)
The transfer of material resulting from an allowed earth
removal action from one part of a lot to another part of the same lot.
(6)
The removal of material necessarily excavated in connection
with lawful construction of a building, structure, street, driveway, sidewalk,
path or other appurtenance, provided that the quantity of material removed
does not exceed that actually displaced by the portion of such building, structure,
street, driveway, sidewalk, path or other appurtenances below finished grade.
(7)
Earth removal action conducted on municipal property,
or completed by municipal employees of the City of Northampton.
(8)
Earth removal action under a permit issued by any agency
or department of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the federal government.
(9)
Earth removal action for construction in accordance with
a legally issued building permit.
(10)
Earth removal action which does not require the use of
hydraulic hammering or heavy-impacting extraction technology.
(11)
Removal of glacial stone, rock, sand, topsoil and other
earth materials with backhoes and front-end loaders in operations existing
at the time of the enactment of this chapter.
Activities which are not exempt and which require a permit from the
Earth Removal Enforcement Officer include:
A.
The Earth Removal Enforcement Officer shall issue a permit
if he finds that the permittee's earth
removal actions will not:
(1)
Endanger the general public health, safety or convenience.
(2)
Constitute a nuisance.
(3)
Result in detriment to, or depreciation of, neighboring
properties.
(4)
Interfere with use by owners or occupants of neighboring
properties in the normal use and enjoyment of their properties by reason of
noise, dust, traffic or drainage conditions.
(5)
Extend within 300 feet of a public way.
Conditions which may be imposed by the Earth Removal Enforcement Officer
on permits issued:
A.
Hours of operation for earth removal actions.
B.
Amount of earth material which can be removed in one
year.
C.
Production of a site plan which shows the area from which
earth materials will be removed, including topographical plans which show
how the property will be regraded so as not to have a detrimental effect on
surrounding lots.
D.
Regulation of the amount of traffic in and out of the
property where earth removal action is occurring so as not to have a detrimental
effect on surrounding parcels of land.
E.
Issuance of a performance bond to guarantee compliance
with any condition imposed under the permit issued by the Earth Removal Enforcement
Officer.
A.
Each and every removal of earth materials of 10 cubic yards by any person, corporation or other entity, without a permit issued by the Earth Removal Enforcement Officer as required under § 168-4 of this chapter shall be a separate violation of this chapter subject to the fines as set forth in Chapter 40, Enforcement.[1]
B.
The Earth Removal Enforcement Officer, may, in his/her
discretion, issue a cease-and-desist order for second and subsequent violations
of this chapter.
The Earth Removal Enforcement Officer shall be the Building Commissioner
serving ex officio in this capacity. The Earth Removal Enforcement Officer
shall have authority to issue tickets for violations of this chapter.
