Wherever used in this chapter, the following
words shall have the meanings indicated:
BUILDING PERMIT
Any permit issued by the Township officer pursuant to the
provisions of the Upper Providence Building Code for the construction, erection or alteration of a structure
or building.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 301]
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar
material is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated or bulldozed, and shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material
is deposited, placed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new
location, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
GRADE
The elevation of the existing ground surface at the location
of any proposed excavation or fill.
GRADING
Excavation or fill or any combination thereof, and shall
include the conditions resulting from any excavation or fill.
PERSON
A natural person, but shall also include a partnership or
corporation.
SITE
A lot, tract or parcel of land or a series of lots, tracts
or parcels of land joined together, where grading work is continuous
and performed at the same time.
The fee for granting permits shall be fixed
by the Board of Supervisors by resolution from time to time.
Every grading permit shall expire by limitation
and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit has
not been commenced within six months or is not completed within one
year from the date of issue, provided that the Township Engineer may,
if the permit holder presents satisfactory evidence that unusual difficulties
have prevented work being started or completed within the specific
time limits, grant a reasonable extension of time, and provided further
that the application for the extension of time is made before the
date of expiration of the permit.
All fills shall be compacted to provide stability
of material and to prevent undesirable settlement. The fill shall
be spread in a series of layers, each not exceeding 12 inches in thickness,
and shall be compacted by a sheepsfoot roller or other approved method
after each layer is spread. The Township Engineer may require tests
or other information if, in his opinion, the conditions of materials
are such that additional information is necessary.
Adequate provisions shall be made to prevent
any surface waters from damaging the cut face of an excavation or
the sloping surface of a fill. Slopes of more than 10 feet in vertical
height shall be separated by level berms of at least four feet in
width. Berm ditches shall be constructed where necessary to prevent
erosion. All drainage provisions shall be of such design as to carry
surface waters to the nearest practical street, storm drain or natural
watercourse approved by the Township Engineer as a safe place to deposit
and receive such waters. The Township Engineer may require such drainage
structures or pipes to be constructed or installed which, in his opinion,
are necessary to prevent erosion damage and to satisfactorily carry
off surface waters.
The owner of any property on which an excavation
or fill has been made shall maintain in good condition and repair
all retaining walls, cribbing, drainage structures, fences and other
protective devices.
In case any work is performed by any person
in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the proper
officer of the Township, in addition to other remedies, may institute
in the name of the Township any appropriate action or proceeding,
whether by legal process or otherwise, to prevent such unlawful work
and to restrain or abate such violation.