The Township Committee does hereby find that grading and related site improvements not subject to subdivision or site plan approval should be suitably regulated to ensure compliance with various Township requirements. It is the purpose of this chapter to establish an efficient and effective mechanism to ensure such regulation.
Whenever a permit is required in connection with an applicable project, said permit shall be obtained from the Township Engineer in accordance with the procedures set forth below and the requirements and standards of this chapter.
A. Any person desiring to engage in activities identified in §
204-2A of this section shall file an application with the Building Department on a form to be provided for said purpose and shall pay the associated application and escrow fees. Application and escrow fees shall be in accordance with Article
III of the Township Land Use and Development Code (Chapter
225, §
225-7). Said application shall be accompanied by a
grading plan prepared by a licensed professional engineer.
B. Any person desiring to engage in activities subject to Article
XVII (Soil Erosion and Sediment Control) of the Township Land Use and Development Code (Chapter
225) shall also submit an application for plan certification as required by that article.
C. The filing of an application shall constitute the applicant's consent to the Township Engineer or his/her designee(s) for entry upon the land for purposes of inspection and enforcement.
D. Within 30 days of the filing of an application, the Township Engineer shall render his/her decision upon the application and, in the case of partial or complete disapproval, shall set forth the basis for such decision in writing.
The Township Engineer shall issue a
grading permit upon receipt of an application for such
permit, approval of a
grading plan, and payment of
permit fees and escrow fees as required in Article
III of the Township Land Use and Development Code (Chapter
225, §
225-7). For projects that are subject to Article
XVII (Soil Erosion and Sediment Control) of the Township Land Use and Development Code (Chapter
225), a
grading permit shall not be issued unless plan certification has been granted.
All permit applications shall be accompanied by a grading plan prepared by a licensed professional engineer. The plan shall include the following:
B. All information as necessary or appropriate to fully and adequately describe the proposed project and all measures required to comply with requirements of the Township Code.
C. The plan shall cover all stages and aspects of the proposed project from grading, stripping, excavation and other site preparation through and including both final grading and the installation of permanent improvements.
In considering and approving a plan, the Township Engineer may impose reasonable conditions or requirements necessary or desirable for the proper implementation of the plan, in accordance with the purposes and intent of this chapter.
After a plan has been approved, it shall be unlawful for the applicant, or any person performing services in implementing the plan, to deviate from or change, amend or modify the plan in any way, except in accordance with §
204-8 below.
Amendments, changes or modifications of a minor nature to a plan required as the result of conditions arising in the field during construction may be ordered or approved by the Township Engineer.
The following factors shall be taken into consideration in determining whether to issue a grading permit:
A.
Whether the proposed project is in conformance with the following sections of the Township Code (as applicable):
(1)
Soil erosion and sediment control (Article
XVII of Chapter
225).
(3)
Flood damage prevention (Article
XIX of Chapter
225).
(4)
Stormwater management (Article
XXXIX of Chapter
225).
B.
Whether the proposed project would permanently alter existing drainage patterns.
C.
Whether the grading activity has any negative impact on the stormwater drainage onto adjoining lands.
D.
Whether the proposed project, whenever feasible, retains and protects natural vegetation and the natural ground surface.
E.
Whether the proposed design conforms to accepted safety and engineering practices.