The following is a section of the Township of Medford Land Use Ordinance. Click here for the entire ordinance.

527 - SITE CLEARING, GRADING AND SOIL PROTECTION

A. Clearing Standards

1. All clearing and soil disturbance activities shall be limited to that which is necessary to accommodate an activity, use or structure which is permitted by this Ordinance;

2. Where practical, all clearing and soil disturbance activities associated with an activity, use or structure, other than agriculture, forestry and resource extraction, shall:

a. Avoid wooded areas, including New Jersey's Record Trees as published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 1991 and periodically updated; and

b. Revegetate or landscape areas temporarily cleared or disturbed during development activities.

3. In areas other than the Pinelands Area of the Township, clearing shall be permitted only where necessary for the physical construction of roads, improvements and buildings and only in conformance with a detailed landscaping plan submitted by the applicant and approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be.

B. Grading. No grading construction or regrading shall be permitted which creates or aggravates water stagnation or a drainage problem on adjacent properties. Grading shall be limited to areas shown on an approved plan.

C. Topsoil And Subsoil Protection.

1. No topsoil shall be removed from the site, except as provided herein. Topsoil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed over the disturbed areas of the development and shall be stabilized by seeding or planting or another method shown on the approved plan.

2. Excess subsoil, when approved by the Township Engineer, may be transferred to another site within the Township, but only under the circumstances set forth herein may it be relocated outside the Township.

3. No grading construction or regrading shall be permitted which creates or aggravates water stagnation or drainage areas shown on the approved plan.

4. Excess subsoil may only be removed from the site or relocated outside the Township upon the Township Engineer's recommendation and Township Manager's approval.

(Ord. No. 1992-1 § 2; Ord. No. 1997-16 § 47)