Bloomsbury City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Environmental Impact Statement
§ 270-48 Definition.
The environmental impact statement is a description and analysis of all possible direct and indirect effects development will have on the site itself as well as adjacent and noncontiguous areas, with particular reference to the effect of the project on the public safety, health and welfare, the protection of public and private property and the protection, preservation and enhancement of the natural environment.
§ 270-49 Applicability.
No site shall be disturbed by any person, partnership, corporation, public agency or entity within the Borough unless the environmental impact statement has been reviewed and approved by the Board in accordance with the specifications and procedures required by this article. Exceptions from this article are only as listed below:
A.
Application for site plan review on three acres or less or for a building permit in the residential zone, where the Building Inspector has determined by referring to the Natural Resource Inventory 1975 that no part of the land disturbed falls in:
B.
Signed permits, etc.
C.
Applications for minor subdivisions shall be exempt from filing an environmental impact statement but the Board shall include consideration of the natural resources inventory factors in making its classification.
§ 270-50 Consultant.
The applicant must provide written information to the Board at the time an environmental impact statement is submitted as to the qualifications and experience of the consultant, firm, agency, individual or person selected by the applicant for preparation of the plan.
§ 270-51 Data required.
The environmental impact statement shall contain information and analysis with respect to the following:
A.
The location of the project and a description of the project specifying what is to be carried out, including:
B.
An inventory of existing environmental conditions at the project site and in the surrounding region which shall describe contours, air quality, water quality, water supply, hydrology, geology, soils, topography, vegetation, wildlife, aquatic organisms, ecology, demography, land use, aesthetics and history.
C.
A listing of all licenses, permits or other approvals as required by municipal, county or state law and the status of each.
D.
An assessment of the probable impact of the project, both adverse and beneficial, on the topics described in Subsection B above.
E.
Any probable adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided, including:
(1)
Water supply.
(2)
Air quality.
(3)
Noise.
(4)
Undesirable land use patterns.
(5)
Damage or destruction of significant plant or wildlife systems.
(6)
Aesthetic values.
(7)
Destruction of natural resources.
(8)
Displacement of people and/or business.
(9)
Displacement of viable farms.
(10)
Employment and property tax.
(11)
Destruction of man-made resources.
(12)
Disruption of desirable community and regional growth.
(13)
Health, safety and well-being of the public.
(14)
Traffic.
F.
A thorough discussion of the steps to be taken, during and after construction, both at the project and the surrounding area, to minimize the adverse environmental effects as described in Subsection E above.
G.
Alternatives to the proposed project, including:
(1)
That of no project.
(2)
Description of alternatives with an objective evaluation of the alternatives that might avoid some of or all of the adverse environmental effects with the rationale for acceptability or nonacceptability of each alternative.
(3)
An analysis of the cost and social impact of the alternatives.
H.
Implication of the proposed action for population distribution or concentration should be estimated and assessment made of the effect of any possible change in population patterns upon the resource base, including land use, water and public services of the area impacted.
I.
The relationship between local short-term productivity, environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, assessing the project for cumulative long-term effects from the perspective that each generation is a trustee of the environment for future generations.
J.
A reference list of pertinent published information relating to the project, project site and the surrounding region.
K.
Particular data is required as to:
(1)
Sewerage facilities. Applicant must show:
(a)
Compliance with state and local health regulations.
(b)
If disposal is on site, applicant is to include a soil analysis, percolation test for every five acres, location of aquifers, depth and capacity of all wells within 500 feet of site and any other pertinent data.
(c)
If disposal is on site, applicant is to include data on plant design capacity, capacity of plant to treat industrial or commercial waste when applicable and any other pertinent data.
(d)
Flows expected from any approved subdivision which are dependent upon the same facilities in question.
(2)
Water supply. Applicant must show:
(a)
Compliance with state and local regulations.
(b)
Location and depth of all private and public water supplies within 500 feet of the realty improvement.
(c)
Location, depth and adequacy of off-site private or public water supplies to serve the proposed realty improvement.
(d)
For realty improvements with more than 50 dwelling units, it will be necessary to obtain a determination by the Division of Water Resources that the proposed water supply and sewerage facilities are adequate.
(3)
Drainage. Applicant must show:
(a)
Volume of stormwater runoff now existing from the site and volume to be generated by new improvements.
(b)
Any increase in rate or velocity of runoff and change in drainage patterns.
(c)
Plans for disposition of stormwater whether by retention on site or by means of channeling so as to protect downstream property.
(d)
Floodplains description of potential flood conditions or damages including a summary of flood stages from state and federal sources.
(e)
Submission of an erosion and sedimentation control plan reviewed by the Soil Conservation District.
(4)
Solid waste disposal. Applicant must submit a plan for disposal in compliance with State Sanitary Code.
(5)
Air pollution. Applicant must show that no visible smoke or deleterious chemical changes will be produced in the atmosphere by any heating or incinerating devices or by processing of material.
(6)
Chemical impact areas. These areas include, but are not limited to, stream corridors, streams, wetlands, estuaries, slopes of greater than 12%, high acid and highly erodible soils, area of high water table and aquifer recharge and discharge areas. Applicant must show:
§ 270-52 Reviews and inspections.
Upon submission of the environmental impact statement to the Secretary of the Planning Board, distribution to the various officials and with three copies available in the Municipal Engineer's office (or other designated place) for any person to review, the following reviews and inspections will be conducted within 30 days:
A.
The Municipal Environmental Administrator (or other designated official) will, within seven days of receipt of the applicant's environmental impact statement, make a field inspection to verify the environmental conditions and make a report to the Planning Board with a copy to the Environmental Commission.
B.
The Borough Engineer will, within 30 days of receipt of the applicant's environmental impact statement, review all maps and documents and make a site inspection and then follow with a report to the Planning Board and a copy to the Environmental Commission.
C.
The Borough of Bloomsbury Environmental Commission will, within the time period allowable for Planning Board action on site plan, subdivision or development approval or disapproval, present its review and recommendations to the Planning Board for final determination.
D.
The Borough of Bloomsbury Planning Board shall analyze and review the applicant's environmental impact statement along with reviews from the Environmental Administrator, Engineer, Environmental Commission and any other interested party within 14 days of the Commission's report and give written notice of approval or rejection to the applicant indicating the reasons therefor.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 6, Fees, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 12-19-1991 by Ord. No. 317-91.