[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Dumont by Ord. No. 533 (Ch. 17 of the 1970 Revised Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Brush, weeds and debris — See Ch. 139.
Uniform Construction Codes — See Ch. 182.
Floodplain management — See Ch. 222.
Stormwater management and control — See Ch. 374.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 386.
Zoning — See Ch. 455.
The Mayor and Council find and determine that the unregulated and uncontrolled relocation, filling, excavation and removal of soil on a large scale has resulted in conditions detrimental to the public safety, health and general welfare, substantially hampering and deterring the efforts of the Borough to effectuate the general purpose of municipal planning.
No person shall excavate or otherwise remove soil for sale or for use other than on the premises from which the soil is taken, except in connection with the construction or alteration of a building on such premises, and excavation or grading incidental thereto, without first obtaining permission therefor from the Council and a permit issued as required by this chapter.
If permission to remove the soil is granted, the owner of the premises or the person in charge of the removal of soil shall not take away the top layer of arable soil for a depth of six inches. Such top layer of arable soil, to a depth of six inches, shall be set aside for retention on the premises and shall be re-spread over the premises when the rest of the soil has been removed, pursuant to the levels and contour lines approved by the Council.
The Council shall not consider any application for the removal of soil from the premises for sale or otherwise unless and until the owner of the premises files a written application with the Building Department requesting such permission, which application shall include and be accompanied by the following:
A. 
A metes and bounds description of the lands for which the permit is sought;
B. 
A map of the premises, so described, showing the contour lines and proposed contour grades resulting from the intended removal of soil in relation to the topography of the premises;
C. 
A permit fee of $75.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
The application shall be signed and sworn to by all the owners of the premises.
The proposed grades and contour lines, as shown on the map referred to in § 362-4B of this chapter, shall be subject to inspection and approval of the Council. Permission for soil removal shall not be granted by the Council, nor a permit issued until the map has been filed and until the proposed contour lines and grades have been so approved.
A. 
Upon written request for a hearing made by the applicant to the Council, an opportunity to be heard shall be granted within 30 days thereafter.
B. 
The Council, in considering the application and in arriving at a decision, shall be guided and take into consideration the public health, safety and general welfare, and particular consideration shall be given to the following factors:
(1) 
Soil erosion by water and wind;
(2) 
Drainage;
(3) 
Soil fertility;
(4) 
Lateral support of slopes and grades of abutting streets and lands;
(5) 
Land value and uses;
(6) 
Such other factors as may bear upon or relate to the coordinated, adjusted and harmonious physical development of the Borough.
C. 
If, after examining the application and the map provided for in § 362-4 and after the hearing, in the event a hearing is requested by the applicant, the Council shall be of the opinion that the proposed soil removal will not create conditions inimical to the public health, welfare and safety, and will not result in the creation of any sharp declivities, pits or depressions, soil erosion or fertility problems, depressed land values; and will not create any drainage, sewerage problems or other conditions of danger, permission to remove the soil shall be granted. The permit shall then be issued and shall be valid for six months unless extended by the Council for an additional period of not more than six months. The permit shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this chapter.
Before any permission for soil removal shall be granted or permit issued under this chapter, the owner or applicant shall file with the Council a bond, in form and with surety acceptable to the Borough attorney in such amount as in the opinion of the Council shall be sufficient to insure the faithful performance of the work to be undertaken pursuant to the permission granted by the Council and as required by the provisions of this chapter.
If permission to remove the soil is granted, the owner or person in charge of the removal of the soil shall so conduct the operations that there shall be no sharp declivities, pits or depressions, and in such a manner that the area shall be properly leveled off, cleared of debris and graded to conform with the contour lines and grades as approved by the Council.
No excavation shall be made and no soil shall be removed under the provisions of this chapter unless a permit therefor shall have been first obtained as required by this chapter, and no excavation shall be made and no soil shall be removed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 742]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.