[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Dartmouth 6-3-2014 by Art. 31, approved 11-20-2014
(Art. 67 of the 2011 General By-Laws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Soil Conservation Board — See Ch. 87.
This chapter is promulgated pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts
General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 21(17).
No more than 30 cubic yards of earth minerals or soils may be
removed during any given calendar year from any parcel of land within
the Town that is not in public use, except in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter.
A.
Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to the removal of any quantity
of earth minerals or soils when any of the following apply:
(1)
As provided in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 21(17),
when such removal is reasonably necessary in the course of operating
pursuant to: a building permit that has been issued by the Building
Department; a special permit, comprehensive permit or final subdivision
plan approval that has been issued by the Planning Board or Zoning
Board of Appeals; a Title V subsurface sewage disposal construction
permit that has been issued by the Board of Health; or any other permit
or license that was issued by a board or commission of the Town. These
exceptions shall apply only for the improvements that are shown on
the plans that have been approved by the Building Department, Planning
Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Health or other Town permitting
or licensing body. Removal of earth minerals or soils prior to, or
in anticipation of, receiving such approval shall still be subject
to the requirements of this chapter.
(2)
When such removal is undertaken as part of, and in accordance with,
customary agricultural practices on established agricultural land,
including, but not limited to, soil manipulation by harrowing or plowing;
stone removal from harrowed or plowed fields; the harvesting of root
crops; and nursery or orchard stock cultivation or removal; provided,
however, that this exception shall not apply to the digging of ponds
or cranberry bogs, or to any other alteration of the land in anticipation
of its conversion to agricultural use.
(3)
When such removal is reasonably necessary in order to complete any
environmental remediation that is required by, and conducted in accordance
with, the provisions of 310 CMR 40.00.
B.
Inapplicability of volume minimum. The 30 cubic yards per calendar
year allowance shall not apply to the removal of improperly disturbed
earth minerals or soils. The removal of any quantity of the same shall
be subject to the requirements of this chapter.
A.
APPLICANT
BOARD
DETERMINATION OF EXEMPTION
DISTURBED EARTH MINERALS OR SOILS
EARTH MINERALS OR SOILS
IMPROPERLY DISTURBED EARTH MINERALS OR SOILS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
INSPECTOR
NATIVE EARTH MINERALS OR SOILS
OPERATOR
PERMIT
PROJECT PARCEL
REMOVAL AREA
REMOVE(D) and/or REMOVAL
TOWN
As used
in this chapter, the terms below shall have the following definitions:
Shall mean the person, corporation or other legal entity,
including any agent of the same, that files an initial application
or renewal application with the Board for a permit or determination
of exemption pursuant to this chapter.
Shall mean the Soil Conservation Board of the Town, as provided in Chapter 87 of these General By-Laws.
Shall mean the written authorization of the Board to remove
disturbed earth minerals or soils without the requirement of a permit.
Shall mean earth minerals or soils that have been removed
from one location and are thereafter mechanically or artificially
deposited in non-natural piles at another location, regardless of
whether those different locations exist on the same parcel of land,
and regardless of whether the earth minerals or soils have been manufactured
or processed into other earth minerals, soils or soil aggregate product.
Shall include soil, loam, sand, gravel, clay, silt, stone,
stonewalls, rocks, boulders, bedrock, and any other minerals or soils
that are normally found in or on the surface of the earth. This definition
shall exclude composted yard waste, stumps, brush and other organic
by-products or products, including the stockpiling of the same, as
well as asphalt, brick, concrete and other non-natural by-products
or products.
Shall mean disturbed earth minerals or soils that were originally
removed from land within the Town in violation of:
This chapter, or any prior iteration of the same, however codified;
Any provision of the Zoning By-Laws of the Town;
Any other statute, by-law, rule or regulation governing such
removal; or
The terms of any permit or other written allowance that was
issued by the Town, including by the Board, for said removal.
Shall mean the individual or individuals who are appointed by that Board pursuant to § 87-5 of these General By-Laws.
Shall mean earth minerals or soils that:
Shall mean an applicant that has been granted a permit or
determination of exemption by the Board pursuant to this chapter.
Shall mean the written authorization of the Board to remove
either native earth minerals or soils, or improperly disturbed earth
minerals or soils.
Shall mean the parcel at which removal occurs, whether or
not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or the terms
or conditions of a permit or determination of exemption that is issued
pursuant to the same.
Shall mean the specific portion of a project parcel at which
removal occurs, whether or not in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter or the terms or conditions of a permit or determination
of exemption that is issued pursuant to the same.
Shall mean the activity of excavating, moving, blasting,
stripping or digging earth minerals or soils on a property.
Shall mean the Town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
B.
Any terms
that have not been defined specifically herein shall have their normal
English meanings, unless the context indicates otherwise.
The removal of more than 30 cubic yards of native earth minerals
or soils in any given calendar year or of any quantity of improperly
disturbed earth minerals or soils, from land that is not in public
use in the Town shall require a permit from the Board.
A.
Limitations on issuance of permit. No permit shall be issued by the
Board if it determines that the requested removal will endanger the
general health or safety of the public. Furthermore, no permit shall
be issued by the Board until and unless the applicant either obtains
from the Dartmouth Zoning Enforcement Officer a finding and statement
that the requested removal will not violate the Zoning By-Laws of
the Town, or otherwise obtains zoning relief to allow said removal
from the Zoning Board of Appeals pursuant to Chapter 40A[1] and said Zoning By-Laws. Finally, no permit shall be issued by the Board until and unless the applicant provides the Board with the performance guarantee that is required by § 184-8.
[1]
Editor's Note: Reference is to Ch. 40A of the Massachusetts
General Laws.
B.
Initial application for a permit. The initial application for a permit
shall include the following:
(1)
A completed application form and filing fee, as established by the
Rules and Regulations of the Board.
(2)
A form showing resource area delineation of the proposed project parcel(s). The contents of this form must have been previously approved for such purposes both pursuant to the Wetlands Protection Act (Massachusetts Generals Laws Chapter 131, Section 40) and its associated regulations (310 CMR 10.00), and pursuant to the Town's Wetlands By-Law (Chapter 360 of the General By-Laws).
(3)
A scaled site plan, which has been prepared by a registered land
surveyor or professional engineer that is licensed in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and that shows:
(a)
The proposed project parcel(s);
(b)
The proposed and existing contours of the land of each such parcel,
at intervals of not more than two feet;
(c)
The boundary lines for each such parcel;
(d)
The Assessor's map and lot information for all lots for which information is provided pursuant to Subsection B(4) below;
(e)
All wetlands that are within 100 feet, all dwellings that are within
200 feet, and all road layouts that are within 300 feet of the proposed
removal area(s); and
(4)
The names of owners, addresses, and Assessor's map and lot information
for all lots that are within 100 feet - including across any street,
body of water or municipal boundary - of the proposed project parcel(s),
as taken from the most recent tax list that has been certified by
the Board of Assessors. The name and business address of the owner(s)
of the project parcel(s) also shall be provided, if different than
the applicant.
(5)
The quantity of earth minerals or soils that the applicant is requesting
authorization to remove, as shown on the submitted scaled plan, and
which must be calculated by a professional engineer or registered
land surveyor that has been licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
C.
Hearing notice. After receipt of an initial application for a permit, the Inspector shall confirm that it is complete and satisfies the requirements of Subsection B, and shall thereafter provide the applicant with the time, date and location of the public hearing for said application. The applicant then shall provide written notice of this hearing to all of the abutters whose information was provided pursuant to Subsection B(4). This notice shall list the time, date and location of the hearing, shall reference the reason for the hearing, including any waivers that have been requested pursuant to Subsection F, shall provide the applicant's contact information, and shall have attached to it the completed application. The applicant is responsible for mailing this notice to all abutters by certified mail at least 10 days in advance of the public hearing. If, at or before the scheduled hearing, the applicant fails to provide the Board with the timely certified mail confirmation of the receipt or attempted delivery of all such required notices, then the hearing shall be rescheduled, with the applicant again responsible for providing notice of the same pursuant to this subsection.
D.
Permit expiration. A permit issued under this chapter shall expire
one year from the date of issuance, or upon completion of the removal
of earth minerals or soils that was authorized thereby, whichever
occurs sooner.
E.
Permit renewal.
(1)
Permits may be renewed annually; provided, that the failure to obtain the renewal of a permit prior to the completion of all authorized removal activities shall require the operator to undertake the restoration of the removal areas in accordance with § 184-10A. The Board shall establish through its rules and regulations the procedures for submitting a permit renewal application, the form of said application, the filing fee for said application, and any documentation that should accompany this submission; provided, that any change in the location or scope of the removal area(s), the quantity or type of earth minerals or soils to be removed, the final grade of the removal area, the operator of the removal operation, or any other substantive change to the removal operation, shall require the submission of a new initial permit application pursuant to Subsections B and C. The operator may submit a permit renewal application for the original removal project concurrently with the submission of a new initial permit application for said substantive change. The Board will act first upon the new initial permit application, and if and only if that application is denied, the Board thereafter will act upon the permit renewal application.
(2)
Completed permit renewal applications, including the renewal fee, should be received 30 days prior to the expiration of the permit. The Inspector shall confirm that a permit renewal application is complete and satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of the Board, and shall thereafter provide the applicant with the time, date and location of the public hearing for said application. The Board will then take action upon the permit renewal application at its next meeting. If the completed permit renewal application is received by this deadline, then the current permit shall be valid until the Board meets to take action upon the renewal application, notwithstanding the standard annual expiration date that is provided in Subsection D. If the completed permit renewal application is not received by this thirty-day deadline, then the current permit shall be subject to said annual expiration date; provided, that a permit renewal application, rather than a new initial application, may still be submitted up to six months after the expiration of the permit; further provided, that all soil removal operations must be suspended after said expiration until such time as a renewal permit has been issued.
F.
Waivers.
(1)
As part of the approval of an initial permit application, the enforcement of the provisions of Subsection B(3) and (5), and of § 184-7, may be waived at the Board's discretion with respect to any particular case when:
(a)
The applicant requesting the waiver has established that enforcement
of any of said provisions would be manifestly unjust, considering
all the relevant facts and circumstances of the individual case;
(b)
The applicant has established a level of protection that is
equivalent to the requirements of the provision for which a waiver
is being sought, such that the health, safety, convenience, welfare,
beautification, economic status of the neighborhood, Town and the
inhabitants will not be impaired by said waiver; and
(c)
With respect to the requirements of § 184-7 in particular, the proposed removal of earth minerals or soil would result in a final height of the removal area(s) that is no lower than the abutting property or improved road layout; provided, that no such waiver may be granted if the proposed finished grading of the removal area(s) would alter the flow of storm water runoff.
(2)
Every waiver request shall be noted on the initial permit application
and must make specific reference to the provision from which relief
is being sought. Waivers may not be granted for a renewal application.
If waivers are sought during an ongoing project a new initial permit
application must be filed.
No permit shall be required for the removal of disturbed earth
minerals or soils; provided, that if the disturbed earth minerals
or soils have been stored in a manner that failed to ensure their
proper separation from the surrounding native earth minerals or soils,
then a determination of exemption from the permitting requirement
nonetheless shall be required from the Board prior to the removal
of more than 30 cubic yards of said disturbed earth minerals or soils
in any given calendar year. The existence of the lack of proper separation
shall be determined at the discretion of the Board, but shall include,
without limitation, the failure to utilize concrete, tarping or other
non-natural materials as a barrier between the disturbed and native
earth minerals or soils.
A.
Application procedures for determination of exemption. The Board
shall establish through its rules and regulations the procedures for
submitting an application for a determination of exemption for a project
parcel or parcels, including any renewal of the same, the form of
said application, and the filing fee for said application.
B.
Soil evaluator. The applicant for a determination of exemption must
retain the services of a soil evaluator who has been licensed in accordance
with 310 CMR 15.000, in order to determine the limits of the disturbed
earth minerals or soils. The Board will not act on an application
for a determination of exemption until a soil evaluation has been
performed by said licensed soil evaluator, in the presence of the
Inspector, and to the maximum depth to which the proposed removal
of the disturbed earth minerals or imported soils will occur.
C.
Site plans. At the discretion of the Board, plans showing the proposed
removal site that have been prepared by a registered land surveyor
or professional engineer shall accompany the determination of exemption
application.
D.
Limitations on issuance of determinations of exemption.
(1)
No determination of exemption shall be granted in instances where
the disturbed earth minerals or soils have become reintegrated into
the native geologic landscape through the passage of time, as indicated
by the presence of established woody vegetative growth over the originally
artificial piles in a density of not less than one woody plant per
1,000 square feet of surface area of disturbed earth minerals or soils;
provided, that no such woody plant shall be included in this determination
unless the stem of the same has a diameter of at least three inches
at a height of four feet from the surface of the disturbed earth minerals
or soils. Such integrated piles shall be considered to have reverted
to the status of native earth minerals or soils, just as if they had
been intentionally incorporated into the geologic landscape, thereby
requiring a permit in order to remove more than 30 cubic yards of
the same in any given calendar year.
E.
Expiration of determinations of exemption. A determination of exemption
expires upon removal of the disturbed earth minerals or imported soils
that have been specified by the Board in said determination, or within
one year of the date of the issuance of said determination, whichever
occurs sooner.
The issuance of any permit or determination of exemption is
subject to the following restrictions:
A.
Conditions. The Board may, in its discretion, impose such conditions
on a permit or determination of exemption as it believes are necessary
or prudent in order to protect the general health and safety of the
public, prevent nuisances, protect native earth minerals or soils,
protect native vegetation, and ensure compliance with the terms of
said permit or determination of exemption and all of the Town's rules
and regulations and General and Zoning By-Laws, including this chapter.
The Board may alter, delete or add new conditions to a permit or determination
of exemption upon the submission of a renewal application.
B.
No substitution for other Town approval. The issuance of a permit
or determination of exemption by the Board shall not be construed
as, or otherwise substitute for, the authorization, under any statute,
regulation or other by-law, of any other local board, commission or
officer, including, without limitation, the Director of Inspectional
Services, Board of Health, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board,
Conservation Commission or Historic District Commission.
C.
No authorization for use of land. The issuance of a permit or determination
of exemption by the Board shall not constitute, or be construed as
constituting, any affirmation by the Board in general, or the Town
in particular, that the applicant is the owner of the project parcel(s)
for which said permit or determination of exemption was issued, or
has an easement interest or the permission of said owner to operate
on said parcel(s) in accordance with said permit or determination
of exemption. Such ownership, easement interest or permission is a
prerequisite to the lawful use of any such permit or determination
of exemption under this chapter. By accepting a permit or determination
of exemption, the applicant concurrently accepts these restrictions
and agrees to indemnify the Town and its boards, commissions, committees,
officers, employees, officials, agents and attorney against any claims
that are brought against them by the owner of said parcel(s), including
with respect to trespass, in response to any removal activities that
are conducted pursuant to said permit or determination of exemption.
D.
Non-transferability. Permits and determinations of exemption are
not transferable, even to successors in interest to the operator.
In order to obtain a permit pursuant to § 184-4, any proposed removal of earth minerals or soils must satisfy the following requirements:
A.
Minimum setbacks. The removal project must satisfy the following
minimum setbacks from the removal area(s), as shown on the scaled
site plan that was submitted with the initial permit application:
(1)
One hundred fifty feet from all dwellings and commercial structures
that are intended for occupation, and that are not in common ownership
with the project parcel(s);
(2)
One hundred feet from all improved public ways and improved private
ways that are available for use by the public; and
(3)
Twenty-five feet from all property boundaries with parcels that are
not in common ownership with the project parcel(s).
B.
Grading.
(1)
The removal project must satisfy the following grading requirements
for the removal area(s) after the completion of removal activities
pursuant to the permit, as shown on the scaled site plan that was
submitted with the initial permit application:
(a)
Grading within 75 feet of a property boundary with a parcel
that is not in common ownership with the project parcel(s) must be
no steeper than three feet horizontal to one foot vertical slope;
(b)
Grading within 150 feet of an improved public way, or an improved
private way that is available for use by the public, must be no steeper
than three feet horizontal to one foot vertical slope; and
(c)
All other grading must be no steeper than two feet horizontal
to one foot vertical slope, unless the applicant utilizes either stone
reinforced slopes or terraced grading with retaining walls. Such methods
must be designed by a professional engineer that has been licensed
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
(2)
The grading provisions of this subsection shall not apply to bedrock
that protrudes from the ground surface, pond banks that are below
the high water level, or any aspects of cranberry bog construction.
In order to receive a permit for the removal of earth minerals
and soils, the applicant shall provide a performance guarantee, whether
in the form of a bond, a deposit of money or negotiable securities,
a letter of credit from a lending institution, or some other form
of security that is approved in advance by the Board. The Board shall
be listed on said performance guarantee as a party to be notified
in the event of any change in the status of the same.
A.
Calculating performance guarantee. Such performance guarantee shall
be calculated by the Board as follows:
(1)
The amount of the performance guarantee for a project shall be based
upon the permitted removal area(s), with said area being rounded to
the nearest 1/2 of an acre; and
(2)
The amount per acre shall be established by the Board on a case by case basis, based upon the impact of the removal activities upon the project parcel, the extent of restoration work that will be needed at the conclusion of removal activities in order to meet the restoration requirements of § 184-10A, and the mitigation of any safety hazards that may arise during such restoration.
B.
Release of performance guarantee.
(1)
Performance guarantees can only be released upon completion of restoration as required by § 184-10A, as determined by a majority vote of the Board at any meeting at which a quorum is present; provided, that when stone reinforced slopes or retaining walls were utilized in constructing the grading of the removal area, any such release additionally shall first require that a professional engineer that has been licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts certify in writing that said slope or wall construction has met the minimum designs standards that were approved for such construction by the Board in issuing the permit.
(2)
Any request by the operator for the release of the performance guarantee
must be in writing along with supporting documentation; provided,
that an operator may request a partial release of the performance
guarantee in response to the completion of removal activities at,
and subsequent restoration of, only a portion of the removal area(s).
In the situation of a partial release, the operator must submit an
as-built plan of the removal area(s) that will remain open in order
to demonstrate that the remaining performance guarantee amount is
adequate to cover the remaining restoration costs.
C.
Continued validity of performance guarantee. For a permit to be valid, a performance guarantee must be provided in the amount that is specified in the permit, must be given in the name of the applicant and made payable to "the Town of Dartmouth Soil Conservation Board", and must remain valid for 12 months after the conclusion of the term of said permit, including any renewal terms, unless a longer period is required pursuant to § 184-10A.
The Board or the Inspector shall inspect any removal area(s) that are subject to a permit or determination of exemption not less than two times per calendar year. No prior notice of such inspections needs to be given; provided, that such inspection shall take place only during business hours. An inspection fee, in an amount to be set by the Board's rules and regulations, shall be collected annually. In the case of removal operations that are subject to a permit, said fee shall be collected until such time as restoration of the removal area(s) has been completed in accordance with § 184-10A and the performance guarantee has been released, as provided in § 184-8B. In the case of removal operations that are subject to a determination of exemption, said fee shall be collected for so long as said determination is renewed. In applying for, and accepting, a permit or determination of exemption pursuant to this chapter, the applicant concurrently accepts and agrees to the requirements of this section.
The removal of earth minerals or soils shall be subject to the
following performance standards:
A.
Restoration of removal areas.
(1)
Within six months of the removal of all of the earth minerals or soils that are specified in a permit, or prior to completion of said removal once six months have elapsed since said permit has expired without filing a renewal application, or upon the denial by the Board of a renewal application where said denial occurred after said six months had elapsed, or immediately upon an order from the Board to cease and desist any removal of earth minerals or soils that is either unpermitted or in violation of the terms of an issued permit, the operator shall be obligated to commence the restoration of the project parcel(s). Such restoration shall be completed within 12 months of the conclusion of the expiration of the last valid permit that was issued to the operator for the project parcel(s); provided, that if restoration is required as a result of a cease and desist order, then such restoration shall be completed within 12 months of the issuance of said order; further provided, that this restoration period may be extended by the Board in its sole discretion, and then only if the operator submits documentation that the timeframe during which the required performance guarantee is valid has been extended to coincide with the length of the requested extension of the restoration period. Restoration of the project parcel(s) shall be considered complete upon the return of the removal area(s) to a functional use that will not create nuisance conditions, whether on the project parcel or another parcel, through exposed earth minerals or soils. Furthermore, whenever the Board concludes, whether before or after removal, that it is necessary in order to secure exposed excavated slopes, such restoration shall include the covering of such slopes with soil that is capable of supporting plant growth, and that is applied with a perennial ground cover seed. Restoration additionally shall include the planting of trees or shrubs for such slope stabilization purposes only if the Board so states in conditioning the permit pursuant to § 184-6A. The seeded area will not be considered to be in a restored state until such time that established plant growth covers the majority of the seeded surface area, with at least one growing season having elapsed.
(2)
This subsection shall not apply to removal operations that are subject
to a determination of exemption.
B.
Daily securing of removal areas. Excavated faces shall be knocked
down and sloped at the end of each day to the extent that it is necessary
in order to prevent dangerous conditions that may arise due to collapsing
soils from overhangs, vertical banks or straight faces.
A.
Fines. Every violation of this chapter, and every violation of the terms and conditions of any permit or determination of exemption that is issued pursuant to the same, shall be subject to $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for any subsequent offense, or such other fines as may be specified in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 21(17), as it may be amended from time to time. Each day during any portion of which such violation is allowed to continue shall be considered a separate offense. All such fines shall be subject to the non-criminal disposition procedures as provided in Chapter 60, Article I, of these General By-Laws and Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 21D, and all such fines shall be remitted to the General Fund of the Town.
B.
Judicial relief. The Board may seek the enforcement of this chapter
and of the terms and conditions of any permit or determination of
exemption that is issued pursuant to the same, through the issuance
of injunctive or other equitable relief by the Superior Court.
C.
Suspension or revocation. Failure of an operator to abide by the
provisions of this chapter, or the conditions on a permit or determination
of exemption that is issued pursuant to the same, shall subject said
permit or determination of exemption to suspension or revocation by
the Board after a hearing. The operator shall be notified of said
hearing in writing by certified mail at least five business days in
advance of the same.
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any court of
competent jurisdiction determines that any such provision is in violation
of the laws, constitutions or regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
or the United States of America, the remaining provisions shall not
be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
