[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Eastampton 9-26-1960 (Ch. 83 of the 1974 Township Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 205.
Soil erosion and sediment control — See Ch. 432.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 450.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 456.
Subdivision of land and site plan review — See Ch. 460.
Zoning — See Ch. 540.
The terms used in this chapter shall be deemed and construed to have the following meanings:
PERSON
Any individual, firm, association, partnership or corporation, or any group of two or more of them, or anyone acting in behalf of said person.
SOIL
Any earth, sand, clay, loam, gravel, humus, rock or dirt, without regard to the presence or absence of organic matter therein.
No person shall excavate or otherwise remove soil for sale or for use other than on the premises from which the soil shall be taken, except in connection with the construction or alteration of a building on such premises, and excavating or grading incidental thereto, without first having procured permission therefor from the Township Council of the Township of Eastampton. No excavation shall be made for an irrigation pit without permission therefor from the Township Council.
The Township Council shall not consider any application for the removal of soil from the premises for sale or otherwise unless and until the owner of the premises or other person shall first file with the Township Clerk an application requesting such permission, together with two copies of a map of the premises showing the contour lines and proposed contour grades resulting from such intended removal of soil in relation to the topography of the premises. Said proposed contour lines and proposed grades shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Township Council. No such permission for soil removal shall be issued until such maps have been filed and until the proposed contour lines and grades have been approved by the said Township Council.
A. 
Upon written request for a hearing made by the applicant and filed with the Township Clerk, an opportunity to be heard shall be granted within 30 days after said filing, and the Township Council in considering and reviewing the application and in arriving at its decision shall be guided and take into consideration the public health, safety and general welfare, and particular consideration shall be given to the following factors:
(1) 
Soil erosion by water and wind.
(2) 
Drainage.
(3) 
Soil fertility.
(4) 
Lateral support slopes and grades of abutting streets and lands.
(5) 
Land values and uses.
(6) 
Such other factors as may bear upon or relate to the coordinated, adjusted and harmonious physical development of the Township of Eastampton.
B. 
If after examining the application and the map provided for in § 436-2 of this chapter, and after the hearing in the event a hearing is requested by the applicant, the Township Council shall be of the opinion that the proposed soil removal will not create conditions inimical to the public health, welfare and safety, and will not result in the creation of any sharp declivities, pits or depressions, soil erosion or fertility problems, depressed land values, nor create any drainage or sewerage problems or other conditions of danger, permission to remove the soil shall be granted. Said permission shall be shown by the endorsement of the Mayor, or other person designated by the Township Council, and the Township Clerk on a copy of the contour map which shall be returned to the applicant after final approval.
If permission to remove the soil shall be granted, the owner or person in charge shall so conduct the operations that there shall be no sharp declivities, pits or depressions and in such a manner that the area shall be properly leveled off, cleared of debris and graded to conform with the contour lines and grades as approved by the Township Council.
Before permission shall be granted, the applicant shall file with the Township Council of the Township of Eastampton a bond in such form, with satisfactory surety and in such amount as in the opinion of the Township Council shall be sufficient to ensure the full and faithful performance of the work to be undertaken, pursuant to the permission granted by the Township Council pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and which may be found necessary by said Township Council. In addition, the bond shall be conditioned upon the repair, at the expense of the owner or applicant, of any street or streets, road or roads damaged by the transportation of soil in connection with the application, if, in the judgment of said Township Council, such repairs are deemed to be necessary.
No excavation shall be made and no soil shall be removed under the provisions of this chapter unless a permit therefor shall have been first obtained as provided herein, and no excavation shall be made and no soil removed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 5-28-1974 by Ord. No. 1974-5]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.