[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Waldwick 9-24-91 as Ord. No. 10-91]
An ordinance to require the submission of a comprehensive written
and graphic statement regarding the impact of certain applications
for development upon the environment and the municipal infrastructure
of the Borough of Waldwick. This chapter shall be known as "The Waldwick
Borough Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.) Ordinance".
The purpose of requiring an environmental impact statement is
to permit the Planning Board 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.
a.
An environmental impact statement is hereby required to be submitted
for all applications for preliminary major subdivisions and all preliminary
major site plans involving any new building and for soil removal permits.
b.
An environmental impact statement as required herein, shall also
be submitted for all public or quasi-public projects unless they are
exempt from the requirements of local law by supervening State, or
Federal law.
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 Borough 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 information required by this ordinance.
The environmental impact statement (E.I.S.) shall include the
following:
a.
Project Description. The purpose and scope of the proposed project
shall be indicated. The E.I.S. shall 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. The E.I.S. shall provide a description
of environmental conditions on the site which shall include the following
items:
1.
Types of soils. Each soil type located on the site and percolation
data.
2.
Geology. The geologic formations and features associated with the
site.
3.
Vegetation. The existing vegetation on the site showing the location
of major vegetative groupings such as woodlands, open fields and wetlands.
4.
Wildlife. The identification and description of any unique habitats
of endangered or protected species.
5.
Subsurface Water. The subsurface water conditions on the site both
in terms of depth to ground water and water supply capabilities. The
location, of all existing water wells on the site and within 500 feet
of the site shall be indicated.
6.
Distinctive scenic and/or historic surfaces. A map describing those
portions of the site that can be considered to have distinctive scenic
and/or historic qualities.
7.
Existing development features. 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, utility lines, etc.
8.
Miscellaneous. The Planning Board may require an analysis of existing
air quality and noise levels as prescribed by the New Jersey State
Department of Environmental Protection.
c.
Environmental Performance Controls. The E.I.S. shall 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.
Ground water 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.
Facilities impact. The E.I.S. shall contain a statement 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, recreational
facilities and sewage facilities. Should such facilities be determined
to be inadequate to serve the proposed development, the applicant
shall indicate remedies, proposed by the applicant.
f.
Licenses, Permits and Other Approvals, Required by Law. The applicant
shall list all known license, 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 Borough,
as well as agencies of the County, State and Federal governments.
Where approvals have been granted, copies of said approvals shall
be attached to the E.I.S. Where approvals are pending, a note shall
be made to that effect.
g.
Documentation. All publications, file reports, manuscripts or other
written sources of information which were consulted and employed in
compilation of the E.I.S. shall be listed. A list of all agencies
and individuals from whom pertinent information was obtained orally
or by letter shall be listed separately.
The Planning 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.
In reviewing an E.I.S., the Planning 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 Planning Board may submit such statement to
such other governmental bodies and to such consultants as it may deem
appropriate. The Planning 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,
or 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.
See Chapter 48-19.8.
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication
as required by law.
