A.
No excavation or fill shall be made with an exposed face steeper
in slope than three horizontal to one vertical, except under one or
more of the following conditions:
(1)
The material in which the excavation or fill is to be made is
sufficiently stable to sustain a slope of steeper than three horizontal
to one vertical, and a written statement to that effect by a licensed
professional engineer experienced in erosion control is submitted
and approved by the Township Engineer. The statement shall certify
that the site has been inspected and that the deviation from the slope
specified will not result in injury to persons or damage to property
or increased erosion and resulting sedimentation.
(2)
When a retaining wall is provided to support the face of the
excavation or fill, it shall not exceed a maximum height of three
feet or a stepped level or terraced retaining wall system with a combined
maximum wall height of six feet.
B.
The Township Engineer may require a flatter slope when it is found
that the material in which the excavating is to be made is unusually
subject to erosion or if other conditions exist which make such a
shallower slope necessary for stability and safety.
C.
The top or bottom edge of slopes shall be located at least five feet
from property lines or from any ultimate right-of-way, whichever is
more restrictive, in order to permit a gradual rounding of the edge
without encroaching onto the abutting property. At property lines
where resulting slopes are steeper than three horizontal to one vertical
or a retaining wall system is three feet or more in height, a protective
fence shall be located on top of the slope or retaining wall system.
The fence shall be a minimum of four feet in height.
D.
Excavation shall not exceed below the angle of repose or natural
slope of the soil under the nearest point of any footing or foundation
or any existing building or structure unless such footing or foundation
is first properly underpinned or protected against settlement.
E.
Grading shall not redirect or concentrate surface water onto an adjacent
property.
F.
During grading operations, necessary measures for dust control to
prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne shall be followed.
These measures shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)
A tire cleaning area shall be provided at each point of egress
from the development areas;
(2)
Use, where possible, of water or other method approved by the
Township Engineer for control of dust during any land disturbance
activity; and
(3)
Prompt removal of earth or other material from paved streets.
G.
Grading equipment shall not be allowed to cross permanent or intermittent
streams without first obtaining appropriate permits from the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
H.
No applicant shall engage in land disturbance activities that endanger
any adjoining property, public street, sidewalk, alley or other property
from settling, cracking or other damage which might result from such
land disturbance. If, in the opinion of the Township Engineer, the
land disturbance would create a hazard to life or property unless
adequately safeguarded, the applicant shall construct walls, fences,
guard rails, or other structures to safeguard the adjoining property,
public street, sidewalk, alley, or other property and persons.
I.
Excavations or fills shall not encroach on natural watercourses, floodplain areas, constructed channels, or wetlands without the necessary state and federal permits. Excavations or fills located adjacent to natural watercourses or constructed channels shall have suitable protection against erosion. Excavation and fill shall comply with the maximum disturbance standards contained in § 370-29 of Chapter 370, Zoning.
J.
All fill shall be compacted to provide stability of material and
to prevent undesirable settlements. The fill shall be spread in a
series of layers, not exceeding 12 inches in thickness, and be compacted
by a sheepsfoot roller or other approved method after each layer is
spread. The Township Engineer may require compaction tests and reports.
K.
Adequate provisions shall be made to prevent surface waters from
damaging the cut face of an excavation or the sloping surface or a
fill within the area of a proposed subdivision or land development.
Slopes of more than 10 feet in vertical height shall be separated
by level berms of at least four feet in width within which ditches
shall be constructed where necessary to prevent erosion and as a safe
place to deposit and receive such water. The Township Engineer may
require such drainage structures or pipes to be constructed or installed
which are perceived necessary to prevent erosion damage and to satisfactorily
carry off surface waters.
L.
When excavation or fill is proposed, all retaining walls, cribbing,
drainage structures, fences or other protective devices shall be maintained
in good condition and repair.
M.
All lots, tracts or parcels shall be graded to provide property drainage
away from buildings, and to dispose of water without ponding. All
land within a development shall be graded to drain and dispose of
surface water without ponding, except where ponding, as in the case
of detention basins, is part of the stormwater management system for
the proposed subdivision or land development.
N.
All drainage provisions shall be of such design to adequately handle
the surface runoff and carry it to the nearest suitable outlet. Where
drainage swales are used to direct surface waters away from buildings,
they shall be sodded or planted as required.
O.
If load-bearing fill is proposed, a soils investigation report shall
be submitted which shall consist of test borings, laboratory testings
and engineering analysis to correlate surface and subsurface conditions
with the proposed grading plan. The results of the investigation shall
include data regarding the nature, distribution and supporting ability
of existing soils and rocks on the site; conclusions and recommendations
to ensure stable soil conditions, and groundwater control, as applicable.
The Township may require such supplemental reports and data as is
deemed necessary by the Township Board of Supervisors or its designated
official.
(1)
Fills toeing out on natural slopes steeper than three horizontal
to one vertical shall not be made unless approved by the Township
Engineer after receipt of a report by a registered professional engineer,
qualified in soils analysis, certifying that he has investigated the
property, made soil tests and that, in his opinion, such steeper slopes
will safely support the proposed fill. The Township Engineer need
not approve such fills if there is reason to believe, e.g., due to
a report from a similarly qualified registered professional engineer,
that such steeper slopes will not safely support the proposed fill.
(2)
Natural and/or existing slopes exceeding five horizontal to
one vertical shall be benched or continuously stepped into competent
materials, as determined by the Township Engineer, prior to placing
all classes of fill.
Initial construction on the subdivision site shall consist of
stripping and stockpiling of topsoil from all areas to be disturbed.
Upon completion of other construction, the entire amount of topsoil
stripped shall be replaced on the subdivision site.
