All permanent and temporary cutting, filling, grading, regrading
and/or other forms of earthmoving activities shall be known as "grading"
and shall comply with the grading standards in this article.
No person shall engage in earthmoving that endangers any adjoining
public street, sidewalk, alley or other public or private property
from settling, cracking or other damage which might result from such
earthmoving. If, in the opinion of the Township, the nature of the
earthmoving is such as to create a hazard to life or property unless
otherwise adequately safeguarded, the applicant shall construct such
walls, fences, guardrails or other structures to safeguard the public
street, sidewalk, alley or other public or private property and persons
using such as the Township Engineer may require.
Wherever grading will increase the volume, velocity or direction
of stormwater flow toward a property line, the applicant shall install
and maintain drainage facilities sufficient to prevent adverse effects
on the adjoining property. The grading, construction and operation
of these drainage facilities shall not cause any adverse effects on
abutting properties.
Interference with flow of water. No person shall dump, move or place
any soil, bedrock or other material or divert or increase the flow
of water so as to cause the same to be deposited upon or roll, flow
or wash upon or over the premises of another without the express consent
of the owner of such premises so affected or upon or over any public
street, street improvement, road, sewer, storm drain watercourse or
right-of-way or any public property, nor may any person block the
natural flow of water by damming or blocking this flow.
Handling of materials. No person shall, when hauling soil, bedrock
or other material over any public street, road, alley or public property,
allow such materials to blow, spill or track over and upon such street,
road, alley or public property or adjacent private property.
Compliance with Steep Slope Ordinance. All grading shall comply with
the Township's Steep Slope Ordinance, as outlined in Upper Merion
Township's Zoning Ordinance.[1]