The Borough Mayor and Council do hereby find and declare that:
A. Unregulated and uncontrolled disturbance, relocation, filling, excavation
and removal of soil on a large scale by developers and excavators
in and upon lands in the Borough has resulted in conditions detrimental
to the public health, safety and general welfare, substantially hampering
and deterring the efforts of the Borough to effectuate the general
purpose of municipal planning.
B. Continuation of the unregulated and uncontrolled disturbance, relocation,
filling, excavation and removal of soil will result in serious and
irreparable damage to the public welfare by reason of consequent soil
erosion by water and wind; inadequate and improper surface water drainage;
a decrease in or destruction of the fertility of the soil; removal
of lateral support of abutting streets, lands and premises; creation
of dust storms and places for mosquito breeding; creation of dangerous
depressions or pits; deterioration of property values; rendering of
lands unfit or unsuitable for their most appropriate use; and creation
of other factors and elements hampering and deterring the coordinated,
adjusted and harmonious development of the Borough.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DISTURBANCE
The cutting of trees, movement of soil, including plowing,
spading, cultivating, harrowing or disking of soil, landscaping and
gardening.
INTERMEDIATE SOIL MOVING PERMIT
A permit for the moving of more than 150 cubic yards of soil
on any lot within any 12 consecutive months, or the cumulative movement
of more than 500 cubic yards within three consecutive years, as required
by this chapter.
[Amended 7-25-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-86]
LOT
Any parcel of land or portion thereof, the boundary lines
of which can be ascertained by reference to the maps or records in
the office of the Borough Tax Assessor or in the office of the Bergen
County Clerk.
MAJOR SOIL MOVING PERMIT
A permit for the moving of soil on any lot within any 12
consecutive months that has been classified as a major soil moving
application by the Soil Moving Committee and has been approved by
the Planning Board, as required by this chapter.
MINOR SOIL MOVING PERMIT
A permit for the moving of less than 150 cubic yards of soil
or the disturbance of greater than 2,000 square feet of a lot within
any 12 consecutive months, as required by this chapter.
MOVE
To dig, excavate, remove, deposit, place, fill, grade, regrade,
level or otherwise alter or change the location or contour or to transport
or to supply. This term shall not be construed to include plowing,
spading, cultivating, harrowing or disking of soil or any other operation
usually and ordinarily associated with the tilling of soil for agricultural
or horticultural purposes, landscaping and gardening by homeowners
or agents of homeowners, provided that it does not substantially alter
existing drainage patterns. For the purpose of calculating the quantity
of soil being moved, the total soil movement shall be the sum of the
total excavated soil and the soil imported to the lot.
OWNER
Any person seized in fee simple of any lot or having such
other interest or estate therein as will permit exercise of effective
possession thereof or dominion thereover.
SOIL
Any earth, sand, clay, loam, gravel, humus, rock or dirt,
without regard to the presence or absence therein of organic matter,
including any synthetic substance used as a substitute or in conjunction
with soil, but not limited to asphalt and concrete.
TOPSOIL
Soil that, in its natural state, constitutes the top layer
of earth and is composed of 2% or more, by weight, of organic matter
and has the ability to support vegetation.
UNSUITABLE SOIL
Unsuitable material such as organic materials, vegetation,
leaves, tree stumps, wood chips, sawdust, tree limbs, wooden logs,
waste building material, construction asphalt, concrete debris, chemicals,
drums, pails, plastic containers, tires and other compounds, in addition
to all items appearing on the Borough recycling list and any materials
appearing on the NJ DEP hazardous material list.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following
operations:
A. The moving of 25 cubic yards or less of topsoil on any lot within
a twelve-month period.
B. The moving of soil in connection with the construction or alteration
of the basement or foundation of a building for which a proper building
permit has been issued by the Construction Official of the Borough,
provided the soil movement does not exceed 500 cubic yards.
C. The moving of soil for the installation of underground utility lines,
provided that all necessary permits have been issued.
D. The moving of soil for farming and gardening by homeowners, provided
it does not substantially alter the drainage patterns of the lot.
E. Abandoned wells, septic systems, cisterns or swimming pools may be
filled without a soil moving permit, provided that the owner of the
lot or its agent completes and files a permit form with the Building
Department prior to commencement of the work to be performed.
No soil movement permit shall be issued to any person other
than the owner of the lot, and only if the moving of soil from, in
or upon the lot is necessary for the immediate development of the
property and the normal grading of the lot concerning which the application
is made. No permit shall be issued for longer than one year.
Anyone engaged in the movement of soil of 150 cubic yards or
less or the disturbance of greater than 2,000 square feet of a lot
within any 12 consecutive months shall make application to the Construction
Code Official for a permit prior to commencing operations. The Construction
Code Official, upon receipt of a complete application, shall refer
the application to the Borough Engineer, who shall make a field investigation
and shall recommend the issuance of the permit or recommend denial
of the permit, giving his reasons for the denial.
Anyone engaged in the movement of soil of more than 150 cubic
yards on a lot within 12 consecutive months or the cumulative movement
of more than 500 cubic yards within three consecutive years shall
make application to the Construction Code Official for a permit prior
to commencing operations. The Construction Code Official, upon receipt
of the application, shall refer the application to the Borough Engineer.
The application shall be deemed complete by the Borough Engineer,
and the complete application shall be reviewed by a Soil Moving Review
Committee consisting of the Borough Engineer, Construction Code Official,
and a designee of the Planning Board, if so appointed. The Committee
shall make a field investigation and shall recommend the issuance
of the permit or recommend denial of the permit, giving their reasons
for the denial, or classify the application as a major soil moving
application and refer the application to the Planning Board for a
public hearing and approval by the Planning Board.
A major soil moving permit is any soil moving permit classified
by the Soil Moving Review Committee as a major soil moving application
and referred to the Planning Board. The Soil Moving Review Committee
may classify an application as a major soil moving application because
of drainage impacts on adjoining properties, extensive regrading of
the lot, extensive retaining walls or the scale of the project. A
major soil moving permit shall be required to be approved by the Planning
Board after a public hearing, with notice being required to be given
to all persons as set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12. The Planning Board
shall fix a date for the public hearing within 45 days after the receipt
of the complete application as determined by the Borough Engineer.
The issuance of the major soil moving permit shall be made by the
Planning Board.
The procedure for applying for and issuance of a soil moving
permit shall be as follows:
A. Applications for minor soil permits shall be filed with the Construction
Code Official and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in this
chapter. Applications shall be made in triplicate on forms prescribed
by the Borough.
B. Applications for intermediate soil permits shall be filed with the
Construction Code Official and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed
in this chapter. Five copies of the application form prescribed by
the Borough shall be submitted.
C. Applications for major soil permits shall be filed with the Construction
Code Official and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in this
chapter. Applications shall be made in triplicate on forms prescribed
by the Borough for determination of completeness. Upon determination
by the Borough Engineer that a complete application has been submitted,
the applicant shall submit 15 copies to the Planning Board for scheduling
of a public hearing date.
D. Form of application:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) The name and address of the owner of the property.
(3) The relationship between the applicant and owners.
(4) The name and address of the person having express charge, supervision
and control of the proposed soil moving operation; provide telephone
number and cellular number.
(5) The lot, block number and street address of the lot or lots involved.
(6) The purpose or reason for the moving of soil.
(7) The estimated quantity, in cubic yards, and type of soil to be moved,
with supporting calculations.
(8) A statement as to how the moving of the soil will affect all trees
with a diameter of six inches or more.
(9) The proposed date of commencement and completion of the work.
(10) A description of equipment to be used in the soil movement operations;
a list of the number and size of trucks and other vehicles.
(11) A listing of the route to be used by the vehicles in the moving and
installing of the soil.
(12) The source, address and town, of the soil moved to the lot; a certification
from a certified laboratory as to the soil suitability or the certification
from an environmental consultant, based upon the historical survey
of the source site, of the soil suitability.
(13) Proof of liability insurance in such an amount and form as the Planning
Board may require.
(14) Method of abating noise and dust in the soil moving operation.
(15) A statement granting permission to the Borough officials or their
employees to enter the premises and make surveys and inspections as
the work progresses.
(16) Such other pertinent data as the Planning Board may hereinafter reasonably
require.
E. Topographical map. Accompanying the application shall be a topographical
map prepared by a licensed professional engineer and a licensed professional
land surveyor. The map shall be prepared at a scale not to exceed
30 feet to the inch. The topographical map shall include the following:
(1) Boundary limits of the entire lot, including metes and bounds information.
(2) Limits of the area to be disturbed or graded for which the permit
is sought.
(3) The present grades, at two-foot intervals, of the area to be disturbed
or graded and the area 25 feet outside the limits of the area to be
disturbed or graded.
(4) The proposed grades, at two-foot intervals, of the area to be disturbed
or graded and the area 25 feet outside the limits of the area to be
disturbed or graded, using a designation different than those used
for the present grades.
(5) The present grades, at two-foot intervals, of all adjacent properties
to a distance of at least 15 feet from the lot in question, including
the location of any structures within such 15 feet if the area to
be disturbed or graded is within 25 feet of the property line.
(6) The location and size of proposed structures, with first-floor and
basement elevations of all proposed buildings.
(7) All elevations shall be computed based on United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey datum.
(8) Location of all trees greater than four inches in diameter, plus
measures to provide tree protection.
(9) The quantity of soil for which the soil moving permit is sought,
together with the calculations used to arrive at such determination
of quantity. The quantity shall be calculated by accepted earthmoving
computations, such as the average end area method. The quantity of
soil to be moved shall be certified as accurate by a licensed professional
engineer.
(10) Details of retaining walls and other structures proposed for support
of soil, together with elevations of proposed grade above and below
any retaining wall and at the top of the wall. All retaining walls
must be designed, construction supervised and certified by a licensed
professional engineer.
(11) The plan must clearly delineate soil erosion and sediment control
measures and construction techniques that are to be implemented to
minimize the loss of soil due to erosion.
(12) The plan must provide construction details for the soil erosion and
sediment control measures and construction techniques that are to
be implemented to minimize the loss of soil due to erosion.
(13) A notation as to the method of restoration of disturbed areas; the
method of permanently stabilizing all disturbed areas.
(14) All easements and restrictions of record which may affect the subject
lot or lots.
(15) Existing surface and subsurface drainage conditions and patterns
of the lot and surrounding area.
(16) The presence, absence or location of freshwater wetlands on the lot
or within 150 feet of the area to be disturbed.
(17) The location of a Ho-Ho-Kus stream, as identified in the Borough
of Ho-Ho-Kus Stormwater Management Plan, on the lot or within 300
feet of the area to be disturbed.
(18) An indication if the lot is identified as an historic site in the
Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus Master Plan.
An application for a soil moving permit shall be reviewed and
considered in the following manner:
A. Minor soil moving permit; issuance. Within 30 days of the receipt
of a completed application, the Borough Construction Official shall
render a determination based upon the recommendation of the Borough
Engineer.
B. Intermediate soil moving permit; issuance. Within 30 days of the
receipt of a completed application, the Borough Soil Moving Review
Committee shall render a determination on the application; provided,
however, that should the Committee refer such application to the Planning
Board, the Planning Board shall have an additional 45 days from the
date of the referral of such application by the Committee to render
its decision on the application.
C. Major soil moving permit; issuance. The Planning Board shall review
and render a determination within 45 days after the submission of
a completed application.
In considering and reviewing applications for minor, intermediate
and major soil permits, the Borough Planning Board and Borough Engineer
and or Soil Moving Review Committee shall be guided by the general
purposes of municipal planning and the following standards:
A. Soil erosion by water and wind.
B. No soil moving shall be permitted to result in any increase of velocity
or change in direction of surface water runoff without such water
being appropriately managed on site so as to not adversely affect
other properties.
C. Soil fertility and soil-bearing capacity.
D. Lateral support of abutting streets and lands.
E. Public health and safety.
G. The general welfare of the municipality and of the citizens of the
Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus.
H. The unsightliness of the premises after soil movement.
I. The effect of flooding upon the premises in question or surrounding
properties.
J. No soil moving permit shall be issued if the proposed soil moving
would have any reasonably conceivable detrimental impact upon any
person, surrounding property or the Borough.
K. In development of land, natural grades should be preserved wherever
possible, and soil moving shall only be permitted when good and sufficient
reason appears for such soil moving.
L. No soil moving shall be permitted which shall result in the removal
or destruction of trees in violation of the standards established
under the Tree Removal Ordinance of the Borough. In all respects,
the applicant shall provide a method for protection of trees acceptable
to the Borough and provide welling or mounding where appropriate.
M. All proposed structures shall be situated on the lot so as to require
the least amount of soil moving as is practical.
N. Whether the proposed removal of soil constitutes a commercial activity.
O. No slope created by soil moving shall be permitted to exceed a grade
which rises or falls one foot vertically for every four feet horizontally.
P. Such other factors as may bear upon or relate to the coordinated,
adjusted harmonious physical development of the Borough.
Q. Proposed soil and sedimentation control plan.
No person to whom a soil moving permit has been issued shall:
A. Conduct or maintain on the premises any sand, gravel or similar kind of pit; any sand or gravel washing or screening machinery or equipment; any business or industry not permitted in the district in which said premises are located and classified by Chapter
85, Zoning, as amended and supplemented; or any endeavor or enterprise other than the grading or regrading of said premises in accordance with the provisions of said permit and, where applicable, the necessary disposal of soil incidental to said grading or regrading.
B. Conduct or maintain any soil moving operations without having first
made adequate provisions by means of water, calcium chloride, or otherwise,
for the prevention of dust incidental to the use of vehicles, machinery
and equipment on the lands described in the soil permit.
C. Neglect to dispose of, on or before the completion date stated in
the application, any partially or wholly excavated boulders or other
noncombustible debris resulting from the soil moving operations by
burial or removal and any partially or wholly excavated stumps felled
or uprooted trees or other combustible debris resulting from the soil
moving operations.
D. Conduct any soil moving operations beyond the expiration date as
set forth in the soil removal permit or extended expiration date as
may duly be granted by the Planning Board.
[Amended 1-3-2023 by Ord. No. 2022-77; 4-25-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-85]
Soil moving conducted in the Borough shall be performed in accordance
with the following regulations:
A. In all operations for which a permit is required:
(1) Prior to the start of soil movement operations, the disturbance of
a lot or construction, the following must be performed:
(a)
The limits of disturbance must be delineated with construction
fencing.
(b)
Sediment barriers must be installed and maintained throughout
the entire length of the project.
(c)
Tree-protection measures must be installed to protect the tree
critical root zone (CRZ) of the existing trees and approved by the
Borough Engineer or Borough Official. CRZ is the distance from the
trunk that equals one foot for every inch of the tree's diameter.
(2) Lands shall be graded to conform to the approved contour lines and
grades.
(3) Streets, roads and paved surfaces shall be cleaned, at the applicant's
expense, on a daily basis, of sediments and debris.
(4) The top layer of soil, to a depth of six inches, shall not be removed
from the premises, but shall be set aside and respread over the premises
when the remainder of the soil has been moved.
B. In all operations, whether or not a permit is required:
(1) Prior to the start of soil movement operations, the disturbance of
a lot or construction, the following must be performed:
(a)
Sediment barriers must be installed and maintained throughout
the entire length of the project.
(b)
Tree-protection measures must be installed to protect the critical
root zone of the existing trees within the tree protection zone and
must be approved by the Borough Engineer or Borough Official. As used
herein, "tree protection zone (TPZ)" shall mean a radius of at least
1.25 feet of protected area for each inch of trunk diameter. For example,
a tree with a ten-foot diameter should have protection placed 12.5
feet from the tree. A twenty-foot-diameter tree should have fencing
placed at least 25 feet from the tree to protect the tree roots. In
general, tree-protection barriers shall be placed as space permits
at a distance of at least 10 feet from the trunk of any tree or the
tree's dripline or the TPZ, whichever distance shall be greater, and
shall remain in place until all construction activity on the property
has terminated.
(2) All boulders, tree stumps and other debris shall be removed from
the property.
(3) In dry weather, the person conducting such operation shall dampen
the ground where operations are conducted to prevent dust.
(4) No trucks used shall be loaded above the level of the sides of the
truck, to prevent spillage, and all streets shall be cleaned, at the
applicant's expense, each day, of any spillage or soil on such streets
resulting from truck operations.
(5) All truckloads shall be covered with tarpaulin and, if necessary,
treated by water or chemicals to prevent flying dust.
(6) No trucks, machinery or any part of the operation shall be conducted
before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays nor at any time on
Saturday, Sunday or federal or state legal holidays.
(7) All vehicles engaged in such operations shall use as routes only
those Borough streets which have been approved by the Planning Board.
The applicant shall notify the Police Department as to the route which
will be utilized for transporting soil.
(8) The entire area covered by the work shall be maintained and left
in such manner as not to create or maintain a nuisance or condition
hazardous to life and limb or to the health or general welfare of
the inhabitants or the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus.
(9) All excavation, removal and other mandatory ground cover work, including
restoration of property to final grades and subsequent seeding, must
be completed within one year from the date of the permit.
(10)
No more soil shall be removed than is reasonably necessary for
the development and use of the land.
(11)
No soil removal shall be allowed which shall cause drainage
to adjacent property or prejudicially affect the values of adjacent
properties.
For the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter,
any member of the Planning Board and any duly authorized agent of
the office of the Borough Engineer and the Municipal Construction
Code Official's office of the Borough shall have the right to enter
into and upon any lands in or upon which soil moving operations are
being conducted to examine and inspect such lands. The Municipal Construction
Code Official is hereby authorized to issue stop-work orders and summonses
for any violation of this chapter as determined by the Municipal Construction
Code Official or the Borough Engineer.
All other provisions which are not affected by this chapter are hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect. However, all ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency, including former Chapter 63, Soil Removal, §§
63-1 through
63-9.
If any portion of this chapter is adjudged unconstitutional
or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall
not affect or invalidate the remainder of this chapter, but shall
be confined in its effect to the provision directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
This chapter shall take effect after final passage and publication
as required by law.