Borough Moves Ahead With Soil Movement Permit Requirement

Borough officials are taking steps to regulate and control the movement of soil involved in both large and small projects by instilling the need for a soil movement permit before work could begin.

The idea behind requiring developers and excavators to seek this permit before removing or relocating soil is to protect public safety and health in the borough, as Ken Job, borough engineer had recommended to the council recently.

The ordinance, which was introduced on Tuesday, cites numerous issues that could arise without proper control such as damage to neighboring properties, health issues, water drainage problems and devalue of land among other issues.

Work involving 400 cubic feet of soil or more will require what would be known as a major soil permit and work involving anything from zero to 400 cubic feet will require a ministerial permit. 

According to the ordinance, ministerial permits would be obtained through the building department and major soil permits would go through the borough’s Planning Board as part of its review.

As for fees, those seeking ministerial permits would pay $25 to apply and would be required to put up $750 in escrow; those seeking major soil permit would pay $75 to apply and would put up $3,250 in escrow.

The escrow fund would cover any additional engineering costs or inspection fees that may be incurred during construction, explained Mike Kronyak, borough administrator.  Unused funds would be returned to the applicant, he added. 

The escrow amounts reflect what the borough’s engineer Kenneth Job believes would cover the average additional costs that could be incurred, Kronyak explained.

The ordinance has been reviewed by with soil being moved onto a borough property, according to Kronyak.

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