[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Raritan 12-16-2025 by Ord. No. 25-46. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
No topsoil shall be removed from areas intended for lawn and open space. Topsoil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed on the project site so as to provide for the average depth of topsoil in existence prior to disturbance or a minimum of at least six inches of cover to all areas, whichever is greater, provided that all berms shall have a minimum depth of topsoil of 12 inches.
(1) 
All areas intended for lawn and open space shall be stabilized by seeding, planting or sodding; and when the disturbed area exceeds 5,000 square feet, it shall be in accordance with a soil erosion and sediment control plan approved by the Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District.
(2) 
In the event that the site does not contain sufficient amounts of topsoil to provide the required topsoil to all areas intended for lawn and open space, the developer shall supply sufficient amounts of additional topsoil to the site in order to meet this requirement. Quality and composition of imported topsoil shall be approved by the Township Engineer prior to importation.
B. 
As a supplement to the requirements of the Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District, this section requires that no soil shall be removed from or be imported to any non-residential site within the Township of Raritan without prior approval of the Raritan Township Planning Board, except and in accordance with the following:
(1) 
As part of the review and approval process of a major subdivision or major site plan application by the Land Development Board, the Board may recommend to the Township Engineer and Planner the issuance of a soil removal permit for the removal or import of soil upon the request of the applicant and the Board's review of the data and information provided by the applicant as part of the site plan submission. In this regard, prior to the removal or importation of such soil and final site plan sign off:
(a) 
The applicant shall provide the Board with an estimate of the total amount of soil to be excavated from the site and the total amount of soil to be imported to the site.
(b) 
The applicant shall conduct soil borings sufficient in degree to measure the average depth of topsoil present on the site of disturbance.
(c) 
The Planning Board shall review the data and information as part of its review of the application for development.
(d) 
The data and information provided by the applicant shall include an assessment of how the soil is to be distributed and stabilized, including grades and contours.
(e) 
Moreover, the applicant shall provide the Township Engineer the results of the testing of the soil in accordance with the standards of the Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District and/or the County of Hunterdon, as applicable.
(f) 
The applicant shall describe the size and number of vehicles that are anticipated to haul the removed or imported soil or rock, together with proposed truck routes.
(2) 
Soil may be removed on any individual non-commercial lot for the purpose of constructing permitted and approved accessory structures (e.g., septic systems, swimming pools, etc.) and in accordance with regulations set forth in Chapter 296, Article XXV, Stormwater Control.
(3) 
Soil may be removed on any individual lot which contains an approved soil removal business.
C. 
No topsoil shall be removed from the Township of Raritan except as provided in Subsection B(2) and (3) above unless the Township Engineer determines that there is no other site or land within the Township of Raritan where it can be placed within a reasonable time.
D. 
Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit, an approved soil plan must be signed by the Township Engineer. Prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy for any improvement on a site which required major subdivision and/or major site plan approval and thus is subject to the approvals required by this section, the applicant shall conduct such soil boring tests as are deemed necessary to verify that the final amount of topsoil meets the standards required by this section.
A. 
Prior to soil transport from or to any property in Raritan Township, and in the event the property is not being overseen by a licensed site remediation professional, a qualified environmental professional shall collect soil samples of a sufficient frequency as required and provided in Chapter 6, Table 2 of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Fill Material Guidance for SRP Sites, as may be amended from time to time, based on the volume of material to be transported or as deemed appropriate by the Township Engineer.
B. 
A New Jersey certified laboratory shall analyze the samples for the analytical requirements set forth in Section 6.2.2 of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Fill Material Guidance for SRP Sites, as may be amended from time to time.
C. 
Soil may only be transported in accordance with the requirement established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's A-901 licensing requirements unless the applicant is exempt per such requirements.