[Amended 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-22]
A. An environmental impact report or request for waiver
shall be prepared for any site plan or major subdivision within this
Township undertaken by a developer. The Planning Board shall review
and approve the report in accordance with specifications and procedures
required by this chapter.
B. No application for development shall be approved unless
it has been affirmatively determined, after an environmental appraisal,
that the proposed project:
(1) Will not result in a significant adverse impact on
the environment.
(2) Has been conceived and designed in such a manner that
it will not significantly impair natural processes.
(3) Will not place a disproportionate or excessive demand
upon the total resources available to the project site and to the
impact area.
C. To facilitate the environmental appraisal, all applications for development not specifically exempted in §
126-272 must include 10 copies of an environmental impact report (EIR) or a waiver request based upon the environmental assessment (EA).
[Amended 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 81-19]
[Amended 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-22; 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 81-19]
The approving authority, upon recommendation
of the Technical Coordinating Committee, may waive the requirements
for an environmental impact statement, in whole or in part, if sufficient
evidence is submitted by the developer to support a conclusion that
the proposed project will have a negligible environmental impact or
that a complete environmental impact statement need not be prepared
in order to adequately evaluate the environmental impact. Notwithstanding
the aforesaid, waivers may not be granted for any proposed project
located, in whole or in part, in areas designated as floodplains or
having slopes exceeding 15%. The contents of the environmental impact
report may be determined by the Technical Coordinating Committee.
[Amended 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-22; 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 81-19; 11-18-1991 by Ord. No.
91-33; 7-7-2005 by Ord. No. 05-46]
A. An environmental impact statement shall be prepared
and submitted to the Secretary of the Planning Board as part of their
submission. Twenty-four copies of a complete EIS will be required
for preliminary plat and site plan approval. The Planning Board shall
not authorize site plan or subdivision approval without accepting
the EIS or request for waiver. A description of the educational background,
New Jersey state certifications and experience and involvement in
Somerset County in the past five years (resumes) of the principal
preparers of the EIS shall form part of the document.
B. Applicants shall discuss and analyze, in the environmental impact statement, those factors required for the particular project in §
126-272 and any other factors pertinent to the proposed project. Applicant shall confirm if there is the appearance of wetlands or transition areas on adjacent properties.
[Amended 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-22]
The EIR shall consider, where pertinent to the
proposed project, the following items:
A. The proposed project. Describe, with suitable sketches
and plans, the proposed project. This section shall summarize, rather
than duplicate, the site plan and building plan.
B. Existing conditions of the site and affected off-site
areas.
(1) The applicant will survey and describe the environmental
features of the property. The applicant may utilize resource information
available from the Township. Generally, an inventory will consider
the air quality, topography, surface groundwater, vegetation, wildlife,
archaeological and historical features and traffic. Forest vegetation
is to be classified by type and age class. The distribution of types
and classes will be indicated on a map, the scale of which will be
one inch equals 100 feet or such other scale as may be required by
the Environmental Officer. The location, species and diameter at breast
height (dbh) of eight inches and all ornamental trees with a dbh of
four inches, or more are to be shown on the same or on a separate
map, and other aesthetic features. Current land use of the project
property and adjacent properties within 500 feet and its relation
to the Master Plan will be indicated on a separate map. If the proposal
is for residential or institutional use, background levels of noise
throughout the anticipated area affected must be determined.
[Amended 11-18-1991 by Ord. No. 91-33]
(2) Any applicant of industrial and commercial enterprises
must show that after construction and during normal operation the
enterprise must not exceed the State of New Jersey regulations controlling
industrial and commercial stationary sources (N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.1 et
seq.).
C. Wastewater management.
(1) Estimate the expected flow of sewage, process water
and/or other wastewater expected from the proposed development. If
any flow is expected, discuss:
(a)
If disposal is on site, relation to topography,
soils and underlying geology, including water table, aquifer recharge
areas and all wells within 500 feet of the disposal area, and note
which have been recorded by the Bridgewater Township Health Department
to exhibit high coliform readings; indicate distance to the nearest
private/public water distribution line; and include results of percolation
tests and soil logs required by ordinance.
(b)
If disposal is to an existing private facility
or to a new public facility, identification of owner and location
of the plant and location of existing collection point to which the
proposed project would be connected, and document evidence that the
expected flows from the proposed facility will be accepted and can
be treated adequately by the private or public facility.
(2) Compliance with all applicable state and municipal
health regulations and with all groundwater standards of the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection.
D. Water supply.
(1) If the water is to be supplied from the site, and
a flow of 100,000 gallons per day or less is required, an impact assessment
of water supply is required if the anticipated demand exceeds the
available safe yield indicated in the resource inventory maintained
by the Environmental Commission. In such case, the applicant must
substantiate and explain the anticipated demand, present proof that
aquifer can yield the desired amount of water, demonstrate that wells
proposed for installation will meet acceptable standards and assess
the effect of proposed withdrawals on existing and proposed wells
and surface water bodies within the predicted measurable cone of depression.
If the plan includes 50 or more dwelling units, certification of the
adequacy of the proposed water supply and sewage facilities must be
obtained from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
and included in the EIR.
(2) If the water is to be supplied from the site to other
new sources, and the total project demand for water supply is in excess
of 100,000 gallons per day, the applicant must obtain a diversion
permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
No preliminary subdivision approval will be made by the Planning Board
until such diversion grant(s) has (have) been obtained and evidence
thereof has been included with the EIR. The applicant must assess
the effect of proposed wells and surface water bodies within the predicted
measurable cone of depression in the EIR.
(3) If the water is to be supplied from an existing private
or public facility, identification, owner and location of the facility
and location of existing distribution point to which the proposed
project would be connected shall be provided. The applicant will submit
documentary proof that the facility has the available excess capacity
in terms of its allowable diversion and equipment to supply the proposed
project and is willing to do so.
E. Surface drainage. Estimate the average rate and quality
of stormwater runoff and identify the receiving body or bodies for
such runoff from the site under original natural conditions and from
the site during and after construction if the proposed project were
implemented. Discuss the reasons for any increase or decrease in the
anticipated velocity of runoff if the project were implemented and
any plans for on-site retention or other techniques that are proposed
for use to minimize peak storm flows and resultant downstream flooding.
The boundaries of the floodplain, as shown to exist by the floodplain
map which is filed in the Township office, shall be shown on one map
which illustrates the existing condition of the site where the proposed
project is to be implemented.
F. Stream encroachments.
(1) Any applicant shall avoid the placement of fill in,
or the diversion of, any water channel or any other alteration to
a stream channel or floodway area. Consultation with the Technical
Coordinating Committee and the Environmental Commission in early planning
stages is recommended if such actions are contemplated.
(2) A certified copy of the encroachment permit from the
Division of Water Resources, New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, must accompany the EIR for any plan for which such permit
is required by state law. The applicant shall supply copies of all
resource information provided to the Division of Water Resources in
support of his application for an encroachment permit.
G. Solid waste recycling and disposal. Estimate the volume
of solid wastes, by type, expected to be generated from the proposed
project during construction and operation and describe plans for recycling,
collection, transportation and disposal of these materials. Discuss
the recycling plan for the proposed project and its implementation.
Identify the location(s), type(s) and owner(s) of the facility (facilities)
which will receive such solid wastes. If the facility is a landfill,
submit proof that it is registered with the Division of Environmental
Protection and is operated in compliance with the New Jersey Sanitation
Code.
[Amended 4-4-1988 by Ord. No. 88-4]
H. Air quality. Describe each source, its location, the
quantity band nature of materials to be emitted from any furnace or
other device in which coal, fuel, oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene,
wood or other combustible material will be burned or if any other
source of air pollutants, including automobiles attracted by the facility,
will be present on the site during or after construction. If a state
or federal emission permit is required, a copy of the permit and all
resource data submitted with the application for the permit shall
accompany the EIR.
I. Traffic. Describe the number of cars to be expected
and the traffic pattern, including peak traffic, and how it relates
to existing traffic patterns on adjacent roadways.
J. Freshwater wetlands. An applicant shall provide a
statement specifying the total area of the freshwater wetlands to
be affected and detailing any potential adverse environmental effects
of the proposed site plan or subdivision and what measures may be
necessary to mitigate those effects.
[Added 9-19-1985 by Ord. No. 85-27]
K. Adverse impacts which cannot be avoided. The EIR shall
contain a summary list, with discussion of the potential adverse environmental
impacts which cannot be avoided should the proposed project be implemented.
Short-term impacts should be distinguished from long-term impacts.
Reversible impacts should be distinguished from irreversible impacts.
Any impacts on critical areas, which include but are not limited to
streams, floodways, wetlands, slopes of 20% or greater, highly acid
or highly erodible soils, areas of high-water table, aquifer recharge
areas and mature stands of native vegetation, wildlife, water quality,
air quality, noise, displacement of viable farms and increased traffic,
should specify the type of criteria involved and the extent of similar
areas which will not be affected.
L. Environmentally protective measures. The EIR shall
contain a listing of all environmentally protective measures which
will be used should the proposed project be implemented. These are
measures which will avoid or minimize adverse effects on the natural
and man-made environment of the site and region during the construction
and operation of the facility.
M. Alternatives. The EIR shall discuss and evaluate alternative
solutions to the development proposal, including the no-build alternative.
[Added 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 81-19]
N. Summary environmental appraisal. The EIR shall contain
a concise summary of the environmental impact assessment for the proposed
project. This summary will evaluate the adverse and positive environmental
effects of the project should it be implemented and the public benefits
expected to derive from the project, if any.
[Amended 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-22]
The environmental impact statement shall include
the following items for the proposed project as indicated:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
REQUIREMENTS
|
---|
EIS Item
|
Single Unit and 2 Units
|
3-9 Units
|
10 or More Units
|
"Small" Additional, Ancillary
Buildings in Primary Employment
|
Shopping and Service
|
Primary Employment
|
---|
The proposed project
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Existing conditions of the site and
affected off-site areas (includes groundwater, surface geology, subsurface
geology, soils, ground cover, flora, fauna, drainage, land use, vegetation,
wildlife and archaeological and historical features)
|
|
X1
|
X
|
|
(1)
X
|
X
|
Wastewater management
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Water supply
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Surface drainage
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Stream encroachment
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Solid waste recycling and disposal
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Energy conservation
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Air quality
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
Sound quality
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Traffic
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Environmental protective measures
|
|
X2
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Adverse impacts which cannot be avoided
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
Summary environmental assessment
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Alternatives2
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
NOTES:
|
1 All or
specific items may be exempted by Technical Coordinating Committee.
|
2[Added 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 81-19]
|
3[Amended 4-4-1988 by Ord. No. 88-4]
|