Excavation or grading activities on any lot are regulated under this article and are permitted only under an excavation or grading permit granted by the Building Inspector.
Before any permit for excavation or grading shall be granted, a written application shall be submitted to the Building Department, together with an application fee in accordance with the City of Beacon Fee Schedule, a cost estimate of the project and maps and plans, prepared by and bearing the seal of a land surveyor or professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York, showing the following:
A. 
The area to be excavated or graded.
B. 
Existing contour lines on the premises and proposed contour lines resulting from the intended excavation or removal, shown on a map drawn to a scale of not less than 100 feet to the inch and with a contour interval not to exceed two feet.
C. 
Existing and proposed drainage on the premises.
D. 
Existing state or federally regulated wetlands, rivers, streams or watercourses on or adjacent to the premises.
E. 
Adjoining properties and streets.
F. 
Proposed truck access to the property.
G. 
Such additional information as the Building Inspector or City Engineer may deem necessary in order to decide upon such application.
H. 
Erosion and sediment control to be employed during operations and restoration.
A. 
Each application for an excavation or grading permit shall be referred to the City Engineer by the Building Department within five days of the date of application. Within 30 days of the date of referral, the City Engineer shall forward its recommendation to the Building Inspector and shall indicate whether the application should be approve, disapproved or approved with modifications. The City Engineer shall take into consideration whether such excavation will result in the creation of any sharp declivities, pits or depressions, soil erosion or fertilize problems, decrease property values, create any drainage or sewerage problems or other considerations which would impair the use of the property in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor Note: See Ch. 223, Zoning.
B. 
The applicant is responsible for reimbursing the City for the cost of professional review fees in connection with an application submitted to the City in accordance with the procedure set forth in § 223-61.1.
In acting on any application for an excavation or grading permit, the Building Inspector shall take into consideration the recommendations of the City Engineer. The Building Inspector may grant an excavation or grading permit for a limited period of time, not exceeding two years, if he or she determines that such excavation will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance,[1] and if the Building Inspector further finds that the excavation or grading permit to be granted is capable of being completed within the time provided in the permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 223, Zoning.
An excavation or grading permit shall be granted only subject to the following standards and conditions:
A. 
That the premises shall be excavated and graded in conformity with the proposed contour plan, as approved.
B. 
That slopes shall not exceed 30° to the horizontal or such lesser slope that the City Council may specify as necessary for the public health or safety, soil stability or for the reasonable use of the property after completion of the excavation.
C. 
That no fixed machinery shall be erected or maintained in connection with the excavation and that no building shall be erected on the premises except temporary shelters for machinery and a field office.
D. 
That there shall be no excavation or removal within 50 feet of any street or property line, except that, where the property to be excavated is considerably above street grade at the street line, removal may take place at a lesser distance from the street line if approved by the Building Inspector or City Engineer.
E. 
That no regulated wetlands or required buffers be disturbed without proper state or federal approvals and that there shall be no sharp declivities, pits or depressions and that proper drainage will be provided to avoid stagnant water, soil erosion and water pollution.
F. 
That after excavation or removal, the premises shall be cleared of debris within the time provided in the permit.
G. 
That the top layer of arable soil for a depth of six inches shall be set aside and retained on the premises and shall be respread over the premises and that a suitable ground cover shall be planted and grown to an erosion-resistant condition, upon the completion of the excavation or removal, in accordance with the approved contour lines, and that such work shall be completed within the time provided for in the permit.
H. 
If required by the Building Inspector or City Engineer, that the area to be excavated or a portion thereof shall be enclosed within a fence of such type, height and location as the Building Inspector may specify.
I. 
That the Building Inspector or City Engineer may establish a schedule to be filed with the records of such application and excavation or grading permit showing limitations on the day of the week or the hours of the day during which any work may be performed on the premises; limitations as to the size and type of machinery to be used on the premises; place and manner of disposal of excavated material; and requirements as to the control of dust, noise and lighting, if permitted, so as to prevent results injurious or offensive to the general public.
J. 
That the Building Inspector may require the applicant to submit periodic reports, prepared by and bearing the seal of a land surveyor or professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York, showing the status and progress of the excavation, and may require the applicant to pay to the City an inspection fee in an amount deemed necessary by the Building Inspector or City Engineer to defray the cost of inspection of the operation.
The applicant shall file with the City Clerk a performance bond, in form and with surety acceptable to the City Council, in such amount as the Building Inspector or City Engineer may deem sufficient to insure the faithful performance of the work to be undertaken.
Any excavation or grading permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this article may be revoked by the Building Inspector, after written notice to the applicant, for violation of any conditions of the excavation or grading permit; violation of any provision of this article, or any other law or regulation relating to the work permitted; or the existence of any condition or the doing of any act constituting or creating a nuisance or endangering the life or property of another. Written notice shall be served by registered mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail, to the applicant at the address shown on the application. The notice shall describe the reasons why the City is revoking the permit.
An excavation or grading permit is not required for conduct of one or more of the aforesaid regulated activities in the following cases, provided that the activity is conducted and completed in such a manner as to cause no danger to the public health and safety and no stagnant water, soil erosion, sedimentation, water pollution, excessive drainage runoff or flooding problems:
A. 
In connection with a bona fide landscaping or other site improvement on a lot, provided that no fill is deposited within a watercourse, water body, swamp or other wetlands, and provided that disturbed areas are properly graded and reseeded or otherwise planted.
B. 
In connection with the grading of land in or the construction and installation of roads, drainage and other improvements in a subdivision plat granted final approval by the Planning Board and only in accordance with plans as approved by the Planning Board.
C. 
In connection with the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, moving or structural alteration of a building or other structure, including construction and installation of site improvements related thereto, for which an application for a certificate of occupancy and/or building permit shall have been approved by the Building Inspector, and only in accordance with plans accompanying such approved application or permit.
D. 
In connection with a bona fide farming or forest management operation.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall be liable to a fine of not more than $350 or imprisonment for not exceeding 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.