[Adopted as Ch. 30 of the 1964 Code]
A. 
The regulation and control of the general regrading of land, the extraction and removal of earth products and other excavations are necessary to protect and to prevent serious and irreparable damage to the public health, safety and general welfare, as well as to make effective the general purposes of comprehensive planning and zoning.
B. 
These regulations and controls are intended to prevent the following conditions from occurring:
(1) 
The interruption and diversion of natural watersheds and drainage lines resulting in inadequate and improper surface water drainage.
(2) 
The erosion of soil by water and wind.
(3) 
The decrease in or destruction of the fertility of the land.
(4) 
The removal of the lateral support of abutting streets, land and premises.
(5) 
The creation of dust storms and mosquito breeding places.
(6) 
The creation of dangerous banks, depressions or pits.
(7) 
The interruption of suitable access roads to other lands and the disruption of the future road pattern.
(8) 
The rendering of lands unfit or unsuitable for their most appropriate uses.
(9) 
The depreciation of property values.
(10) 
The creation of other deterrents to the coordinated and harmonious physical development of the Town of Smithtown.
C. 
The short title for this article shall be the "General Regrading and Excavating Ordinance."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EARTH PRODUCTS
Includes such material as topsoil, sand, gravel, stone and other minerals.
EXCAVATION
Any hole, pit, sidehill cut, stripping or similar condition, except that the provisions of this article shall not apply when the extent of such excavation shall be limited to the requirements for actual construction of a wall, driveway or sidewalk, or to the requirements for actual construction of a building or structure or part thereof for which the Board of Site Plan Review has approved a site plan or to a cesspool, septic tank or recharge basin excavation or to a residential site of less than two acres.
[Amended 10-24-1967]
EXTRACTION
All the various methods used in excavating or mining earth products.
GENERAL REGRADING
Any rearrangement of the topography of a property, except that the provisions of this article shall not apply when the extent of such regrading shall be limited to the requirements for the actual construction of a wall, driveway or sidewalk or to the requirements for actual construction of a building or structure or part thereof for which the Board of Site Plan Review has approved a site plan or to a cesspool, septic tank or recharge basin or to a residential site of less than two acres.
[Amended 10-24-1967; 1-22-1974; 2-25-1986]
PROCESSING OF MATERIALS
The passing of sand and gravel as excavated through any portable or permanent machinery or other structure so as to separate, segregate or otherwise change the natural composition or size makeup of the material. Any process or system which washes the natural material obtained at the site shall also be considered a system which processes materials under the provisions of this article.
[Added 5-11-1971]
REMOVAL
The transport of earth products from the property upon which they are naturally located to some other property, whether they remain in their original form or become changed in any way and whether or not such removal is for profit.
SUBDIVIDER
A person or corporation who proposes a subdivision under the provisions of the Smithtown Planning Board's Rules and Regulations for the Subdivision of Land, whether such subdivision is for residential purposes or some other use.
A. 
No regrading, extraction or excavating shall be permitted in the Town of Smithtown, except pursuant to Article III of this chapter or Chapter 245, Article IV, or Chapter 248 of the Town Code, the provisions of this article or pursuant to site plans approved by the Board of Site Plan Review or a building, foundation, pool or other similar permit issued pursuant to the Town Code.
[Amended 5-11-1971; 1-21-1986]
B. 
Processing of subdivisions. The procedure for a subdivider who proposes to do general regrading in conjunction with the construction of a subdivision which is shown on the final plat and which has received the approval of the Planning Board of the Town of Smithtown shall be as follows:
[Amended 5-11-1971]
(1) 
Planning Board: Approve the final plat or other proposed land development under the authority granted by § 277, 278 and 280-a of the Town Law.
(2) 
Subdivider: Certify that the proposed plat will be constructed to the line and grade as shown on the approved modifications to the approved regrading plan.
(3) 
Additional requirements: Approval of a final plat by the Planning Board of the Town of Smithtown and the subsequent filing of the final plat with the Clerk of Suffolk County must be accomplished prior to the start of any regrading operation. Limited regrading for the construction of models or to provide access to interior portions of the property being subdivided may be accomplished with the written permission of the Town Engineer prior to the filing of the plat with the Clerk of Suffolk County and after a preliminary map has been reviewed and approved by the Planning Board.
(4) 
Extent of work permitted in subdivisions: The following regrading operations are considered necessary in the construction of subdivisions and may be carried out, provided that the necessary map approvals have been obtained:
[Amended 2-25-1986]
(a) 
The construction of roads and other required public improvements, including the excavations required for the installation of drainage lines, appurtenances, etc.
(b) 
The regrading of lots for the purpose of constructing a dwelling, including excavations required for cesspools, septic tanks, retaining walls, walks, drainages, appurtenances, etc.
(c) 
The construction of a recharge basin or other underground-drainage storage system.
(d) 
The installation of any other improvements, either public or private, which are required by any authorized agency of the Town of Smithtown.
(e) 
The installation of required utility services.
(5) 
Certification: Prior to the release of the performance bond, the subdivider shall submit a certification by a duly licensed professional engineer or land surveyor in the State of New York that the finished grade of the land and the elevations of buildings are substantially those which were shown on the general regrading plan or approved modifications to the general regrading plan. Foundation elevation plans, when approved by the Building Department and the Engineering Department, shall be accepted as the approved grades for the building shown thereon.
(6) 
No regrading, extraction, excavating or removal of earth products shall be permitted where the Town Board or the Planning Board determines that sand mining (and not a subdivision development) is the primary purpose of the subdivision application.
[Added 2-25-1986]
C. 
Responsibility for permit. No contractor, agent for or subdivider of property or property owner shall cause, allow or permit any general regrading, extracting or removing of earth products or other excavating, as defined in this article, to be done in the Town of Smithtown, except in conformity with this article and all other applicable ordinances.
[Amended 2-25-1986]
A. 
The Town Engineer, the Board of Site Plan Review, with respect to site plans, and the Planning Board, with respect to subdivisions, may require the following documentation with respect to regrading, excavating or the removal of earth products:
[Amended 2-25-1986]
(1) 
A duly acknowledged notarized consent, in writing, of the owner or owners of the premises, including his or their addresses.
(2) 
A certified estimate, prepared by a professional engineer and land surveyor licensed in the State of New York, showing the total number of cubic yards of material to be generally regraded, excavated or removed from the property during each of the described stages of the proposed operation and the time schedule.
(3) 
Drawing.
(a) 
A drawing at a scale of 100 feet to an inch or larger on a sheet not larger than 36 by 48 inches shall be prepared by a professional engineer or land surveyor licensed in the State of New York, showing the following information:
[1] 
The location and survey data of the premises where it is proposed to generally regrade, excavate or remove earth products.
[2] 
All streets adjoining and within 200 feet of the premises.
[3] 
All existing buildings or structures on the premises or within 200 feet of the premises.
[4] 
Existing and proposed elevations at each described stage in the proposed operation for the premises and all land within 200 feet of its boundaries, shown on a horizontal grid system with a fifty-foot interval and also on a cross-section derived from that grid system. Additional elevations shall be shown at each break in the grades and along the center line of all adjoining streets.
[5] 
Present and proposed surface-water drainage and natural drainage features.
[6] 
A key map at the scale of 600 feet to one inch indicating the relationship to the highway pattern, school and Town boundaries and zoning districts.
[7] 
A certification by a duly licensed professional engineer or land surveyor in the State of New York that the existing grades and elevations are based on an actual field survey.
(b) 
The Board of Site Plan Review or the Planning Board may require additional data or waive requirements in appropriate cases.
B. 
Required supplementary documents. The following supplementary documents are required:
[Amended 5-11-1971]
(1) 
A duly acknowledged notarized consent, in writing, of the owner or owners of the premises, including his or their addresses.
(2) 
A certified estimate, prepared by a professional engineer or land surveyor licensed in the State of New York, showing the total number of cubic yards of material to be generally regraded, excavated or removed from the property during each of the described stages of the proposed operation and the time schedule.
A. 
Excavation. The following standards shall apply in the absence of standards applicable pursuant to Article III of this chapter and Chapters 112, Article II; 245, Article IV; 248; 252; 322; or other chapters of the Town Code.
[Amended 5-11-1971; 2-25-1986]
(1) 
No excavation shall be located within 20 feet of any property line.
(2) 
The bottom of an excavation shall not be below the established grade at the property boundaries, unless the sidewalls have a naturally stabilized slope, but in no case greater than one vertical on two horizontal or, in special cases, retaining structures, but in any case the Town Engineer shall require a standard specified in good practice.
(3) 
Before any excavation is started, the area to be excavated shall be enclosed by a six-foot-high wire mesh fence and gate. The gate shall be securely locked, except when actually in use. The fence shall consist of a six-foot-high wire mesh fence on posts complete with top rail and bottom coil springs. The line posts, corner posts and gateposts, the wire mesh, the bracing and all other fence posts shall meet the specifications for six-foot-high fencing established by the Town of Smithtown for the recharge-basin fence and gate, as more specifically described in the Subdivision Regulations.[1] Where required by the Town Board, galvanized steel-rod ties will be substituted for the coil-spring brace wire. These galvanized steel rods shall be installed at the rate of three tie points per panel at the bottom of the wire mesh. The rod shall be clinched to the fabric and anchored in concrete.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 248, Subdivision of Land.
(4) 
Adequate provisions shall be made for the prevention of flying dust and other types of air pollution.
(5) 
The boundaries of the work area shall be flagged with two-by-two-inch wood stakes three feet high or suitable metal rods three feet high, spaced at not more than one-hundred-foot intervals. Stakes that are knocked down or otherwise not easily visible shall be replaced by the permit holder.
(6) 
No excavation shall be permitted without an adequate plan for finished grading and general rehabilitation of the area consistent with the declared policy of the Town of Smithtown, as found in § 154-1 of this article. Such finished grading and general rehabilitation shall be covered by the performance bond.
B. 
Topsoil stripping.
(1) 
No stripping or removal of topsoil shall be made within 10 feet of any property line.
(2) 
The collection and storage upon the property of the original topsoil to permit general regrading and excavation work shall be so carried out that it shall not be buried or mixed with material of inferior quality.
(3) 
When topsoil has been stripped, collected and stored or removed from the property, there shall be left or replaced not less than six inches of topsoil upon the surface of the land.
(4) 
Dust-down, or its equal, shall be spread to prevent dust from flying.
(5) 
No topsoil shall be stripped between the first day of October and the first day of April in the following year.
(6) 
All areas from which topsoil is stripped shall, during the period between August 20 and October 1, inclusive, be reseeded as provided in Subsection D of this section, except when the stripping is preliminary to general regrading or excavation.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
Surface water drainage.
(1) 
No stormwater runoff or natural drainage water shall be so diverted as to overload existing drainage systems or create flooding or the need for additional drainage structures on other private properties or public lands.
(2) 
Where necessary, the required drawing shall indicate adequate drainage structures to carry off and store or discharge the stormwater runoff and natural drainage water which originates not only within the property boundaries but also that which originates beyond the property boundaries. Such structures shall be constructed according to the specifications of the Town Engineer.
D. 
Finished grading and general rehabilitation.
(1) 
After the completion of excavating or stripping, the property shall be finish-graded with a surface layer of not less than six inches of topsoil of a quality native to the site.
(2) 
The finish grade shall promote and be consistent with the declared policy of the Town of Smithtown as found in § 154-1 of this article.
(3) 
No excavation shall be made either below or beyond the finish grades indicated on the site plan approved by the Town Engineer. Exceptions to this requirement over limited areas may be recommended by the Town Engineer for approval by the Town Board in the event that the type and technique of backfill is acceptable to the Town Engineer.
(4) 
The finish grade shall form an appropriate part of the natural drainage area or some positive drainage system.
(5) 
During the period between August 20 and October 1, inclusive, all finish-graded areas shall be prepared into a loose level seed bed, limed, fertilized and seeded in the following steps or in accordance with good landscape practice:
(a) 
Apply ground limestone at the rate of one ton per acre.
(b) 
Apply 5-10-5 fertilizer at the rate of 600 pounds per acre.
(c) 
Disc area to work limestone and fertilizer into the soil to a depth of at least three inches.
(d) 
Smooth area with a smoothing harrow.
(e) 
Sow the following seed mixtures at the rate of 100 pounds per acre:
Type
Number of Pounds
Timothy
30
Kentucky bluegrass
25
Redtop
10
Perennial ryegrass
30
Alsike clover
4
Wild white clover
1
_____
Total
100
(f) 
Brush in seed lightly.
(g) 
Roll firm with ground roller.
[Added 8-9-1983; amended 2-25-1986]
The following provisions shall apply to any regrading, excavating, extraction or processing or removal of materials or earth products that may be permitted pursuant to this article or other provisions of the Town Code:
A. 
No regrading, excavating, extraction or processing of materials shall be permitted between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
B. 
No regrading, excavating or extraction, processing or removal of earth products shall be permitted between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
[Added 2-25-1986]
A. 
The following fees shall be paid to the Town Engineer prior to the removal of earth products, including those removed pursuant to permits issued under Article III of this chapter or Chapters 112, Article II; 245, Article IV; 248, 252; 322; or other chapters of this Code.
B. 
The fees shall be as follows:
(1) 
Other than topsoil removal: $2 per cubic yard in excess of the first 1,000 cubic yards.
[Amended 10-4-2022 by Res. No. 2022-926]
C. 
Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, no fee shall be charged for the removal of earth products when such removal is necessary to install drainage improvements, such as recharge basins, which are required pursuant to the Town Code or applicable statutes, rules or regulations.
[Added 5-6-1986]
[Added 8-24-1982; amended 2-25-1986]
Whenever the Town Engineer has reasonable grounds to believe that regrading and excavating is being prosecuted in violation of any of the provisions of the Code of the Town of Smithtown or not in conformity with the provisions of any application, required supplementary documents and drawings, on the basis of which a regrading and excavating is being conducted, or in an unsafe and dangerous manner, he shall notify the owner of the property or the owner's agent or the person performing the work to suspend all work, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work and suspend all regrading and excavating activities until the stop order has been rescinded. Such order and notice shall be in writing, shall state the conditions under which the work may be resumed and may be served upon a person to whom it is directed either by delivering it personally to such person or by posting the same in a conspicuous place on the site and sending a copy of the same to such person by registered mail.
[Added 8-24-1982; amended 5-24-1983]
Any person who shall fail to comply with a stop-work order issued by the Town Engineer shall be subject to a penalty in a minimum sum of $1,000 for each day that such violation continues.
[Amended 5-11-1971]
A. 
Each violation of this article or any regulation, order or ruling promulgated hereunder or any permit issued hereunder shall be punishable by a minimum fine of $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or both, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. In addition to such fine, the defendant shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the Town in determining such violation. Each violation of this article shall constitute disorderly conduct, and every person violating the same shall be a disorderly person. The foregoing shall be in addition to all other remedies available under the law to the Town or the Town Board.
[Amended 5-24-1983]
B. 
The Town Engineer is designated as administration and enforcement officer for matters covered by this article.