[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 6-20-1966. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 310.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 388.
Grading — See Ch. 403.
Stormwater control — See Ch. 590.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 594.
No person shall excavate or otherwise remove soil or earth for sale or use other than on the premises from which the soil or earth shall be taken in connection with the construction or alteration of a building on such premises, and excavation or grading incidental thereto, without first having procured permission therefor from the Township Council.
The Township Council of the Township of Greenwich shall not consider any application for the removal of soil or earth from the premises for sale or otherwise unless and until the owner of the premises shall first file with the Township Clerk an application requesting such permission, together with a map of the premises showing the contour lines and proposed contour lines and proposed contour grades resulting from such intended removal of soil or earth in relation to the topography of the premises; and said proposed contour lines and proposed grades shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich. No such permission for soil or earth removal shall be issued until such map has been approved by the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich.
A. 
Upon written request for a hearing made by the applicant to the Township Council, an opportunity to be heard shall be granted within 30 days thereafter; and the Township Council, in considering and reviewing the application and in arriving at its decision, shall be guided by and take into consideration the public health, safety and general welfare, and particular consideration shall be given to the following factors:
(1) 
Soil erosion by water and wind.
(2) 
Drainage.
(3) 
Soil fertility.
(4) 
Lateral support slopes and grades of abutting streets and lands.
(5) 
Land values and uses.
(6) 
Such other factors which may bear upon or relate to the coordinated, adjusted and harmonious physical development of the Township.
B. 
If after examining the application and the map provided for in § 573-2 of this chapter and after the hearing, in the event a hearing is requested by the applicant, the Township Council is of the opinion that the proposed soil removal will not create conditions inimical to the public health, welfare and safety, and will not result in the creation of any sharp declivities, pits or depressions, soil erosion, fertility problems or depressed land values, nor create any drainage or sewerage problems or other conditions of danger, permission to remove the soil shall be granted.
If permission to remove the soil shall be granted, the owner or person in charge shall so conduct the operations that there shall be no sharp declivities, pits or depressions and also in such a manner that the area shall be properly leveled off, cleared of debris and graded to conform with the contour lines and grades as approved by the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich.
Before any permit or permission for soil or earth removal shall be granted or issued, the owner or applicant shall file with the Township Council a bond, in form and with surety acceptable to the Township of Greenwich, in such amount which, in the opinion of the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich, shall be sufficient to ensure the faithful performance of the work to be undertaken pursuant to the permission granted by the Township Council pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
No excavation shall be made and no soil shall be removed under the provisions of this chapter unless a permit therefor shall have been first obtained as provided herein, and no excavation shall be made and no soil shall be removed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 10-4-1976]
Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the County jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Municipal Court before whom such conviction shall be had. Each and every violation and nonconformance of this chapter or each day that any provision of this chapter shall have been violated shall be construed as a separate and distinct violation thereof.