Weehawken Township City Zoning Code
§ 23-11.10
Development requirements.
[Ord. No. 4-1987, § 17-10A.9]
a.
Performance standards. Any application for development in the Steep Slope District shall comply with the following performance standards.
1.
Any exposed soils shall be stabilized both during and after construction and development;
2.
The number and extent of cuts shall be minimized to prevent groundwater discharge or ponding;
3.
The maximum number of trees and other vegetative cover shall be preserved;
4.
Soil and rock slippage shall be impeded, and any environmentally sensitive areas shall be protected;
5.
Improvements shall be designed to follow the natural contours of the land, and to provide the least disruption to the land form;
6.
Blasting shall not be conducted unless clearly necessary for site preparation, and, not before a permit is issued from the Bureau of Mine Safety. Blasting shall be conducted during daylight hours consistent with Municipal ordinances and State laws.
b.
Design and construction standards. Each application for development shall demonstrate that the following minimum criteria will be met:
1.
Cut and fill requirements.
(a)
The uppermost point of a cut slope shall not be higher than the top of the nearest downhill structure or building.
(b)
Vegetation shall be re-established on all exposed fill slopes. Exposed graded areas shall be mulched and seeded to provide a basic ground cover which will prevent erosion and permit revegetation. In the alternative, they may be riprapped and blended into the natural setting.
(c)
No land shall be graded, cut or filled so as to create a slope exceeding a vertical rise of one foot for each two feet of horizontal distance between abutting lots, and may do so within a lot only where a stone or masonry retaining wall of sufficient height and thickness is provided to retain the graded bank.
2.
Grade requirements.
(a)
A grading plan shall include details of existing site contours at two foot intervals, terrain and area drainage; and provide elevations, or finished contours to be achieved by the grading.
(b)
Parking and walkways shall not be in excess of 6% unless some provision is made to ease pedestrian access either by ramps or steps.
3.
Setback and buffer requirements.
(a)
The minimum building setback line from the edge of the cliff face shall be 50 feet.
(b)
The provisions under the "Palisade Preservation Setback" in Subsection 23-10.4, paragraph h1 of this chapter (see also Section IIIA of this Ordinance) shall also apply.
4.
Streets.
(a)
Curb, gutter and pavement design shall be such that water on roadways is prevented from flowing off the roadway in an uncontrolled fashion.
(b)
Except where impracticable all new construction shall be located so that it can be serviced by the existing street and sidewalk system.
5.
Compaction of fill.
(a)
Fill material shall not consist of or include organic material, nor rocks greater than eight inches in diameter.
(b)
Fill material shall be compacted to 90% of maximum density.
6.
Design guidelines.
(a)
Structures shall be built on the lesser slopes. No structures shall be located on the cliff face.
(b)
Roads shall be primarily north-south to follow contours, to take advantage of winter sun melt and to reduce storm water runoff velocity.
(c)
The higher and lower sections of the residential development should be linked, where possible, by an internal pedestrian system of steps and ramps. The pedestrian system will typically be perpendicular to the road system. The vertical access stairs that currently exist shall be preserved and maintained when possible.
7.
Vegetation and revegetation.
(a)
A stabilization and revegetation plan shall include a complete description of the existing vegetation, the vegetation to be planted, and slope stabilization measures to be installed. The revegetation and slope stabilization plan shall be submitted with the grading plan.
(b)
Vegetation shall be removed only when absolutely necessary, e.g., for buildings, filled areas, roads.
(c)
Vegetation sufficient to stabilize the soils shall be established on all disturbed areas as each stage of grading is completed. All disturbed soil surfaces shall be stabilized or covered prior to the first day of November. If the planned impervious surface (e.g., roads, driveways, etc.) cannot be established prior to November, a temporary treatment adequate to prevent erosion shall be installed on those surfaces.
(d)
Construction shall be scheduled to minimize soil disturbance between the first day of November and the first day of April.