Rockaway Township City Zoning Code
§ 54-29.13
Grading and soil disturbance.
[Ord. No. 95-24 § 54-90]
A.
General. The grading of land for development shall be designed to:
(1)
Minimize disturbance of steep slopes and vegetation;
(2)
Minimize as well as balance the amount of cut and fill, and minimize the transportation of soil and other materials to and from the site;
(3)
Minimize the potential for erosion, sedimentation, landslides and subsidence; and
(4)
Prevent undue concentration or alteration of stormwater flows;
(5)
Avoid directing runoff over walks and paved areas, where the freezing of such runoff would create hazardous conditions for vehicles and pedestrians;
(6)
Protect ground water supplies, including aquifer recharge areas;
(7)
Enable safe and convenient access to properties, seeking to avoid excessive or insufficient slopes for paved areas and to avoid steps for pedestrian walks; and
(8)
Enable appropriate maintenance of properties.
B.
Soil erosion and sedimentation control. All developments in all districts shall protect streams, lakes and ponds from sedimentation damage, and shall prepare a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan in accordance with and if required by P.L. 1975, c. 251, and shall submit the plan as part of the application before the Board.
C.
Preservation of topsoil. No topsoil shall be removed from the site or used as spoil. Topsoil which is removed as part of subdivision or site plan construction shall be stockpiled in accordance with the requirements for soil erosion or sedimentation control. Topsoil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed so as to provide at least six inches of cover to all areas of the site, and shall be stabilized by seeding and/or planting.
D.
Man-made slopes. The following provisions shall apply to the grading of man-made slopes:
(1)
Unpaved areas adjacent to buildings shall be sloped to direct surface water and roof drainage, including snow melt, away from buildings at a minimum slope of 5% for the first 10 feet of horizontal distance.
(2)
Unpaved areas not adjacent to buildings shall be graded to provide a slope of no less than 2%, unless it is demonstrated that soil permeability provides adequate drainage with lesser slopes.
(3)
Lawn areas shall be graded to provide a slope of no greater than 25%, or four horizontal to one vertical.
(4)
Grass banks and other banks to be maintained by machines shall be graded to provide a slope of no greater than 33%, or three horizontal to one vertical.
(5)
Planted banks which are not to be maintained by machines shall be graded to provide a slope of no greater than 40%, or two and one-half horizontal to one vertical.