Pittsgrove City Zoning Code

Zoning boundary lines are intended to follow the center line of streets, or railroad rights-of-way, or streams and lot property lines as they exist on plats of record or the Township Tax Maps at the time of passage of this chapter unless such zone boundary lines are fixed by dimensions as shown on the Zone Map. Where zoning boundaries do not follow such features, it shall be determined either by the dimensions shown on the map or by use of the graphic scale thereon.

Where boundary lines are not fixed by dimensions and where they do not scale more than 10 feet distant from a plat or Tax Map line, such lot lines shall be considered to be the boundary line.

Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the official Zone Map or in other circumstances not covered by Subsections B(1) and (2) above, the Land Use Board shall interpret the district boundary line.

Boundary tolerances. Where a district boundary line divides a lot held in single and separate ownership at the effective date of this chapter, the use regulations applicable to the less restricted district shall extend over the portion of the lot in the more restricted district a distance of not more than 50 feet beyond the district boundary line.

Prevent the loss of valuable soils which is not deemed necessary for the use of said premises;

Prevent the degradation of sensitive eco systems and the natural landscape;

Insure that the proposed soil movement is necessary for permitted development activity and conforms to good planning principles and standards including the provisions of this chapter and the adopted Township Master Plan;

Protect both ground and surface water supplies;

Encourage the use of the natural topography as much as possible, regulating the type of material used for development activity to assure environmental compatibility and impacts of materials used which are foreign to the premises involved; and

Promote good development design which minimizes the amount of soil disturbance and removal and/or replacement.

The requirements of this section shall apply to all development activity wherein the excavation of soil for removal from or for the transport for disposition or placement of soil onto premises from off site wherein the total sum of all soil to be removed, placed or deposited on any premises is proposed and said soil removal or placement equals 700 or more cubic yards. For purposes of this section, the movement of 700 or more cubic yards of soils to or from premises shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of this section. This section shall not apply to bona fide agricultural activity on a farm carried out in connection with soil conservation programs, provided that said activity does not involve removal from the premises of such farm of soil equaling 700 or more cubic yards and provided said activity is done under a plan approved by the Salem County Soil Conservation District. Additionally, the placement of soils for agricultural purposes onto the premises of a farm shall be permitted to the extent permitted by federal, state or local laws and/or regulations.

Obtaining Township approval for the removal of soils is a two-step process which involves Land Use Board approval of the reason for said soil removal in accordance with the provisions of the Township's Development Regulations Ordinance for the land use activity involved; and the granting of a permit by the Township Committee for the movement of the soils within the Township as stipulated in Chapter 80 entitled "Soils Movement Permit." Applicants for approval of soil movement shall be familiar with the requirements of this section and Chapter 80, regarding the soil movement permit.

The important natural features of the premises involved shall be preserved in the design of the development. Natural features which shall be protected, including the natural terrain, wetlands, wooded areas, scenic vistas, natural drainageways and bodies of water. A development proposing soil removal or placement shall only be permitted to significantly alter or encroach existing natural features of the premises if the Land Use Board finds that such alteration, disturbance, movement or placement of soils is the minimum necessary to allow the use of the land for the intended permitted purpose and that there is no alternative to the development design which would eliminate or mitigate any adverse impact on the soils and their natural features. Where such alternative(s) exists, they shall be utilized to reduce the need for the proposed soil removal or disposition or placement. "Significantly alter or encroach existing natural features" shall be deemed to be the removal or placement of soils involving 700 or more cubic yards.

No soil that is to be transported to or from a subject premises shall be permitted unless in accordance with a submitted plan approved by the Land Use Board during the application proceedings for said proposed development and proposed in compliance with an approved soil erosion and sedimentation plan approved by the Salem County Soil Conservation District. In all cases, the burden of proof will be on the applicant that approvals from all outside agencies having regulatory control over such soil movement have been obtained and will be complied with by said applicant prior to authorization being granted under the provisions of this ordinance. In the event that the soil erosion and sedimentation plan for the land development proposing soil movement is not yet submitted to or approved by the Salem County Soil Conservation District, any Land Use Board approval under the provisions of this section shall be conditioned to said Soil Conservation District approved plan being submitted to the Township Committee at the time the soil removal permit is applied for by the applicant and prior to the authorization of the issuance of any permit.

All soils to be disturbed and/or excavated for removal from and/or all soils to be transported from off site for placement onto any premises within the Township shall be found to be necessary based on the submitted application for development and be determined justified and reasonable by the Land Use Board as the minimum required to permit the proposed development. The fact that valuable or salable soils are discovered to be located on the premises shall not be deemed to justify removal of said soils from the site. It is the intent of this section that soil removal from or soil placement onto premises only be authorized where reasonably required for permitted land use development to occur as provided herein this chapter.

All trees, stumps, brush and other vegetation removed during soil excavation for movement from or placement onto premises within the Township shall be removed on a monthly basis and shall not be buried on the premises. All soil redistributed on the premises or placed thereon shall be in accordance with approved development plans, including provisions for protection of existing and newly planted trees and plants, the premises' existing or natural and proposed drainage design, and with consideration of adjoining properties and their topography, proper drainage of land and visual considerations.

When it is determined by the Land Use Board, based on the application for development submitted and including all plans and reports submitted in support thereof, that insufficient amounts of soils of whatever nature are on the subject premises to provide required material for the proposed development, the Land Use Board shall find and approve all of the following:

No slope along the perimeter of any excavation area shall exceed one foot vertical to five feet horizontal, unless specifically permitted by the Land Use Board as part of the development approval.

The provisions of § 60-42BB(12) shall apply.

Any approval of a development application which involves the transport to or from the premises of 700 or more cubic yards of soils shall require that the applicant obtain a permit for said soil transport from the Township Committee of the Township of Pittsgrove in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80.

Existing or proposed drainage or sewerage problems at the site or within a reasonable proximity to the site involved.

Soil fertility, characteristics and suitability for the land use development proposed, such as where such soils are to be removed from of where they are to be placed and why.

Lateral support slopes and grades of abutting roads and lands.

The impact of said soil removal or placement operations or activities upon adjoining properties, streams and bodies of water, the adopted Township Master Plan, the provisions of this chapter, and the necessity of such soil removal or placement in connection with the development, design and site characteristics, including all zoning and land use regulations pertaining thereto.

The topography of the premises involved as well as adjoining properties and the impact of such activities upon same, including visual impacts resulting from said soil placement, if any.

Any adverse impacts on the natural environment on and within 500 feet of the subject premises and how they are to be mitigated.