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 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.