Actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon;

Exact size and locations on the lot of all existing buildings and other structures, if any, and the location and dimensions of proposed buildings and other structures or alterations;

All existing and proposed uses of said structures, including showing the number of families the building is designated to accommodate; and

Any other lawful information that may be required by Township ordinances, such as grading plans.

When the use of a property involves a new building or structure, or alterations to an existing building or structure, such application shall be made at the time of application for a construction permit.

When no construction or alteration is involved, an application for a certificate of occupancy may be made at any time. It shall be the responsibility of the Construction Code Official to determine, with the assistance of the Zoning Officer as may be needed, whether the proposed occupancy shall conform to the provisions of this section. The application for a certificate of occupancy shall be deemed incomplete until the Construction Code Official has certified that all of the requirements have been satisfied.

All streets upon which occupancy is to take place shall have been constructed and paved to a level of completion that will provide an all-weather, hard surface for drainage, safe movement of vehicles, and be free of dust, debris, and ice and snow. Said streets shall also connect to a street circulation system of at least similar physical character.

All sidewalks, curbs, and gutters for areas of occupancy shall have been installed, except that temporary walkways, curbs, and gutters may be installed and maintained free and clear of debris in areas where future construction is anticipated.

All occupied lots shall be protected from drainage from surrounding lots, and the occupied lot shall have a completed lot drainage system.

All occupied lots shall be free from any encroachment resulting from anticipated future construction activities.

All occupied lots and buildings shall be served by a complete utility servicing system including water, sanitary sewer, electricity, source of heating energy and private telephone capability. Any of these said systems not completed according to subdivision or site plan design requirements and for which temporary provision is to be made prior to notice of completion of improvements to the Township shall be sufficiently operable as to provide safe, sanitary, and uninterrupted service.

Occupied lots shall be landscaped, weather permitting, with ground cover sufficient to prohibit erosion of soils by water or wind.

As-built plans shall be submitted for every development project undertaken within the Township of Mullica that required site plan or major subdivision approval from the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment.

As-built plans shall include the same information, in particular, grading and utility installation, required at the time of final approval of plans by the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Construction Code Official, or other regulating or approving authority and shall be so certified by seal of a licensed land surveyor or professional engineer, as the case may be.

Within an approved major subdivision, no individual dwelling shall be issued a certificate of occupancy unless an as-built plan has been submitted and approved for the utilities to which the dwelling is to be connected.

No performance guarantee shall be released, in addition to any other requirements for the release of such security, unless an as-built plan has been submitted and approved by the Township Engineer.

A New Jersey licensed professional land surveyor or the Township Engineer has confirmed in writing that:

An as-built revised grading plan prepared by a New Jersey licensed land surveyor is approved by the Township Engineer as substantially conforming to the grading proposed in the developer's approved major subdivision plan, site plan, or individual or multiple lot grading plan(s).

An application for major subdivision, minor subdivision, major site plan, minor site plan, conditional use or variance approval pursuant to the requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law of 1975, P.L. 1975, c. 291;

An application for a construction permit pursuant to the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-5:20) for a principal structure on an individual lot, where:

An application for a construction permit pursuant to the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-5:20) for an accessory structure on an individual lot, where:

This section shall not apply to agricultural buildings as defined in definitions, agricultural buildings accessory to an agricultural use (except residences) having front yard setbacks greater than 200 feet and side or rear yard setbacks greater than 100 feet; otherwise, a grading plan shall be provided.

A grading compliance review shall be included as part of the requirements for obtaining a zoning permit. No zoning permit shall be issued for applicable development until:

The Township Engineer shall not review or inspect for compliance applicable to the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act.[1]

Purpose. These grading plan requirements are for the purpose of confirming that proposed applicable developments will not result in flooding, pooling or other drainage-related problems at the lot on which the development is proposed or on adjacent properties. Each grading plan must therefore confirm, to the Township Engineer's satisfaction, that the proposed applicable development on each lot will cause water to drain property from the lot on which such development is proposed, and that such development will not increase the amount of water which drains onto adjoining lots (except as otherwise permitted as part of a final site plan, subdivision, or other Planning Board, Zoning Board or Township Committee approval) or adversely change the manner in which it drains. All lots where applicable development is proposed must be graded to direct surface water runoff away from structures and toward the frontage road or other defined drainage paths that meet the Township Engineer's approval. Where a drainage problem already exists, the drainage plan must confirm, to the Township Engineer's satisfaction, that the proposed development will reduce the impact on adjoining tracts to the greatest extent reasonably possible by causing the surface water to drain into nearby streets, approved drainage facilities or other Township-approved devices.

Lawn areas. The grading plan must confirm that lawn areas will be sloped away from the building and structures at a minimum of 1.5% for the first eight feet from foundation walls, and to confirm a minimum slope of 1.5% in all other lawn areas. The intent of these lawn area slope requirements is to confirm that water will flow away from foundation walls at an acceptable rate, and also to increase the probability that any standing water in lawn areas will dissipate within 24 hours following a storm event.

Swales. The grading plan must confirm a minimum slope of 1.5% for all swales to provide a good flow of water within them. The Township Engineer is authorized to approve flatter slopes in instances where the Township Engineer is satisfied that special care will be taken during construction to achieve good water flow or that other special circumstances apply. Unless otherwise approved by the Township Engineer, swales must be indicated along side lot lines so that water will flow from the rear portions of adjoining lots to the curb. If permitted by easement, the grading plan may also depict water as being directed from or over neighboring lots to the curb or other approved discharge point. The intent of this swale area slope requirement is to increase the probability that all standing water will be dissipated from swale areas within 48 hours following a storm event.

Slopes. The grading plan must confirm that all slopes are no greater than 3:1.

Driveways. The grading plan must confirm that driveway grades do not exceed 10%.

Off-lot grading and drainage. The grading plan must confirm that no grading will occur within five feet of a property line unless necessary to direct drainage off or onto the site and then into acceptable drainage facilities in accordance with these standards. If a grading plan indicates an intention to grade or direct drainage over an adjoining property to provide proper drainage, an existing or proposed easement for this purpose must be filed with the grading plan for review and approval by the Township Engineer and Township Solicitor (or the solicitor for the development board that has jurisdiction over the site plan, subdivision or other application with which the grading plan is submitted). If the grading plan is approved based on a proposed easement, the zoning permit will not be issued unless and until the developer has:

Location of slope excavation. The top of any excavation or slope shall be no closer than five feet to an adjoining property, and shall not provide for water runoff to the adjoining property unless an agreement shall have been provided and recorded as required by Subsection E(6), above.

Retaining walls. If a retaining wall is proposed, construction details must be provided. In cases where a retaining wall is higher than 36 inches, calculations must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer who certifies as to the stability of the structure.

Permit, review and inspection fees for individual or multiple-lot grading plans. Any person who seeks approvals as provided in this section must pay the following fees for each grading approval requested in connection with a zoning permit application and/or site inspection and, if seeking approval of an individual or multiple-lot grading plan, the following per-lot fees for review of such initial, revised or as-built individual or multiple lot grading plan [unless such person is an applicant for development as specified in Subsection H(2) below, in which instance a per-lot zoning permit grading application fee for each individual or multiple-lot grading plan must be paid at the time of each zoning permit application that involves grading review, but the fees and costs of the Township Engineer's review and inspection can, at such applicant's option, be paid for on a time-and-materials basis as set forth in Subsection H(2), below, instead of a flat-fee basis as provided in this Subsection H(1)(b) through (e)]:

Option to pay review and inspection costs based on time and materials; payment from application escrows. Applicants for development who have posted review/inspection escrows with the Township in connection with any application for site plan, subdivision, or other Planning Board, Zoning Board or Township Committee approval may elect in writing to have the Township Engineer paid for any grading-related review and/or inspection pursuant to this section based on time expended and materials used rather than at the flat fee rates set forth in Subsection H(1)(b) through (e), above. Additionally, any such applicant may elect, in writing, that any Township Engineer grading-related review/inspection fees (whether based on flat fee or time and materials) be paid from such applicant's review/inspection escrow(s), in which instance such applicant's grading plan(s) and/or lot(s) as elected, will be reviewed/inspected by the Township Engineer as part of such site plan, subdivision, or other Planning Board, Zoning Board or Township Committee application, whereupon all of the Township Engineer's fees and costs for grading-related review/inspection will be reimbursed from such applicant's review/inspection escrow(s) along with all other review and inspection costs and fees relating to such application.