[Ord. No. 1986-2]
An ordinance to require the submission of a comprehensive written
and graphic statement regarding the impact upon the environment and
the municipal infrastructure, of Greenwich Township of certain applications
for development. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as:
"The Greenwich Township Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Ordinance
of 1985."
[Ord. No. 1986-2; amended
by Ord. No. 2014-02]
The purpose of requiring an environmental impact statement is
to permit the Land Use Board and Environmental Commission to assess
the impact of a proposed project upon the environment, particularly
with respect to land, water, air, solid waste, aquatic and terrestrial
wildlife, social and economic life and aesthetics.
[Ord. No. 1986-2]
a.
An environmental impact statement is hereby required for all preliminary
major subdivisions and for all preliminary site plans involving any
new building or off street parking area and for soil removal permits.
b.
An environmental impact statement, as required herein, shall also
be submitted covering all public or quasi-public projects unless they
are exempt from the requirements of local law by supervening county,
state or federal law.
c.
No application for preliminary major subdivision or for preliminary
site plan shall be approved by the Land Use Board until the information
required by this chapter has been submitted to, reviewed and approved
by the Land Use Board.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2014-02]
[Ord. No. 1986-2; amended
by Ord. No. 2014-02]
This environmental impact statement chapter covers the most complex cases, and the entire contents may not be applicable to less complex projects. Therefore, an outline for discussion shall be submitted to the Land Use Board prior to the preparation of an environmental impact statement. The outline will address briefly the items described in §§ 19-6 and 19-7 below and shall discuss which of these items are environmentally significant with regard to the proposed project. The discussion shall describe the depth of study for these items and how their environmental impact will be evaluated. Additionally, those items upon which the proposed project will have insignificant or no environmental impact shall also be discussed with the request that these items need not be addressed in the environmental impact statement. The Land Use Board will submit the outline to the Township Engineer. The approval of the outline does not relieve the applicant from including additional items of environmental impact, which may be revealed during the conduct of the impact statement, nor does it prevent the Land Use Board from including additional items as necessary at a later date.
[Ord. No. 1986-2]
When an environmental impact statement is required, the applicant
shall retain one or more competent professionals to perform the necessary
work. All applicable material on file in the Township pertinent to
local conditions shall be consulted. Any additional material pertinent
to evaluation of regional impacts shall also be considered. Furthermore,
as much original research as necessary shall be conducted to develop
the environmental impact statement. All environmental impact statements
shall consist of written and graphic materials which clearly present
the required information utilizing the following format.
[Ord. No. 1986-2]
The environmental impact statement shall include the following:
a.
Project description. Indicate the purpose and scope of the proposed
project. Enumerate the benefits to the public which will result from
the proposed project and describe the suitability of the site for
the intended use. A description of the proposed project shall be presented
to indicate the extent to which the site must be altered, the kinds
of facilities to be constructed and the uses intended. The resident
population, working population and visitor population shall be estimated.
The compatibility or incompatibility of the proposed project shall
be described in relation to the following:
b.
Site description and inventory. Provide a description of environmental
conditions on the site which shall include the following items:
1.
Types of soils. List and describe each soil type located on the site.
If applicable, provide percolation data Where the proposed area of
land disturbance will involve soils with moderate or severe limitations
relative to the type of project proposed, a complete mapping of all
soil types shall be required, indicating where the moderate and severe
limitations exist.
2.
Topography. Describe the topographic conditions of the site.
3.
Geology. Describe the geologic formations and features associated
with the site as well as depth to bedrock conditions. Delineate those
areas where bedrock is within two feet of the surface as well as major
rock outcroppings.
4.
Vegetation. Describe the existing vegetation on the site. A map shall
be prepared showing the location of major vegetative groupings such
as woodlands, open fields and wetlands. Where woodlands are delineated,
the forest types shall be indicated.
5.
Wildlife. Identify and describe any unique habitats of endangered
or protected species.
6.
Subsurface water. Describe the subsurface water conditions on the
site both in terms of depth to ground water and water supply capabilities.
The location, depth, capacity and water quality of all existing water
wells on the site and within 500 feet of the site shall be indicated.
7.
Distinctive scenic and/or historic features. Describe and map those
portions of the site that can be considered to have distinctive scenic
and/or historic qualities.
8.
Existing development features. Describe any existing features on
the site that are not considered to be part of the natural environment.
This may include, but not necessarily be limited to: roads, housing
units, accessory structures, utilities lines, etc.
9.
Miscellaneous. When warranted, an analysis shall be conducted of
existing air quality and noise levels as prescribed by the New Jersey
State Department of Environmental Protection.
c.
Environmental performance controls. Describe what measures will be
employed during the planning, construction and operation phases which
will minimize or eliminate negative impacts that could result from
the proposed project. Of specific interest are:
d.
Impact. Discuss both the negative and positive impacts during and
after construction. Indicate those negative impacts that are unavoidable.
The specific concerns that shall be considered include the following:
1.
Soil erosion and sedimentation resulting from surface run-off.
2.
Flooding and flood plain disruption.
3.
Degradation of surface water quality.
4.
Groundwater pollution.
5.
Reduction of ground water capabilities.
6.
Sewage disposal.
7.
Solid waste disposal.
8.
Vegetation destruction.
9.
Disruption of wildlife habitats of endangered and protected species.
10.
Destruction of scenic and historic features.
11.
Air quality degradation.
12.
Noise levels.
13.
Energy utilization.
e.
Licenses, permits and other approvals, required by law. The applicant
shall list all known licenses, permits and other forms of approval
required by law for the development and operation of the proposed
project. The list shall include approvals required by the Township,
as well as agencies of the county, state and federal governments.
Where approvals have been granted, copies of said approvals shall
be attached. Where approvals are pending, a note shall be made to
that effect.
f.
Documentation. All publications, file reports, manuscripts or other
written sources of information which were consulted and employed in
compilation of the environmental impact statement shall be listed.
A list of all agencies and individuals from whom all pertinent information
was obtained orally or by letter shall be listed separately. Dates
and locations of all meetings shall be specified.
g.
Disposition by the board. The board shall review the information
furnished in the environmental impact statement in the context of
the overall design of the proposed development and the relationship
of the proposed development to the environment. The information is
to be used solely to help insure that the proposed development will
cause no reasonably avoidable damage to any environmental resource.
[Ord. No. 1986-2]
All applications for preliminary major subdivision approval,
where more than 10 lots are proposed, and all applications for preliminary
site plan approval shall be accompanied by a community impact statement
analyzing the proposed development and its expected impact upon the
existing facilities and services. The information furnished within
the community impact statement shall serve to influence the design
of the proposed development so that the provision of necessary municipal
facilities can be anticipated and coordinated with the construction
of the proposed development. If the appropriate municipal authorities
fail to supply the applicant with the requested statements as set
forth below, the requirement for such statements shall be determined
to have been waived.
a.
Population impact. An analysis of the number of people expected to
be added to the municipal population as a result of the proposed development
according to the following age cohorts: pre-school aged children,
school aged children, parents of family bearing age, middle aged adults
and retired people.
b.
School impact. An analysis of the anticipated number of pupils who
will be added to the student population in the municipality and a
statement by the relevant school authorities as to the ability of
the existing public school facilities to absorb the expected student
population during a ten year time period and the expected cost of
any required building additions and/or increased teaching staff.
c.
Facilities impact. Statements by the relevant authorities as to the
adequacy of the existing facilities available to serve the proposed
development dependent upon such facilities, including the adequacy
of existing public water facilities; public sewerage facilities; recreational
facilities and library facilities. Should such facilities be determined
to be inadequate to serve the proposed development, the applicant
shall indicate remedies, either expected from other sources or proposed
by the applicant, or any combination thereof, along with the estimated
costs for any additional facilities proposed by the applicant.
d.
Services impact. Statements by the relevant authorities as to the
adequacy of the existing services proposed by the Township to serve
the proposed development and the impact of the development upon the
services, including police protection; fire protection; solid waste
disposal and street maintenance services.
e.
Traffic impact. An analysis of the existing road network available
to serve the proposed development as well as the proposed road network
within the development itself and the surrounding road network which
will be affected by the proposed development, including the capacity
of the existing and proposed roadways, the anticipated traffic volumes
as a result of the proposed development as well as the increase in
traffic volumes expected from other developments within the area;
and any problem spots in the overall road network including unsafe
intersections, turns or grades.
f.
Financial impact. An analysis of the revenues expected to be generated
from the development compared to the anticipated costs which the proposed
development is expected to generate. Revenues and costs shall be shown
for the municipality, the municipal school system and the county.
[Ord. No. 1986-2; amended
by Ord. No. 2014-02]
In reviewing an environmental impact statement, the Land Use
Board shall take into consideration the effect of the proposed project
upon all aspects of the environment, including but not limited to
sewage disposal, water quality, water supply, preservation of trees
and vegetation, protection of watercourses, protection of air resources,
protection of aquifers, protection of public lands and their uses
and ecosystems and the creation of any nuisance factors. The Land
Use Board shall submit the environmental impact statement for review
to the Environmental Commission and may submit such statement to such
other governmental bodies and to such consultants as it may deem appropriate.
The Land Use Board shall request that an advisory report shall be
made to it by the governmental body or consultant within 45 days for
the submission of the environmental impact statement to such governmental
body or consultant. The Land Use Board shall reject the proposed project
on an environmental basis only if it determines that the proposed
project will result in appreciable harm to the natural environment,
has not been designed with a view toward the protection of natural
resources, will place an excessive demand upon the total resources
available for such project and for any future projects, or will result
in reasonably avoidable damage to any environmental resource.
[Ord. No. 1986-2]
The applicant shall pay to the Township, a fee at the time the
environmental impact statement is submitted to cover the cost of providing
reviews and inspections required by this chapter. The fee will be
based upon the following formula:
