(a) Requirements For All Minor Grading. Proposed grading shall be considered "Minor Grading" if it:
(1) will not result in cut slopes steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical, exclusive of benches and roundings;
(2) will not result in an exposed fill slope steeper in average slope than two horizontal to one vertical exclusive of benches and roundings;
(3) will be protected and conducted so that runoff water leaving the premises will not contain sand, silt or other debris;
(5) includes the following drainage protections: will not result in the ponding of water on or above cut or fill slopes or damage from surface waters to the face of any excavation or fill; includes drainage facilities which will carry surface waters to the nearest practical street, storm drain or other watercourse; any area designed for buildings has a minimum of a one percent grade toward the approved drainage disposal area; all swales and ditches have a minimum grade of two percent and a minimum depth of one foot; and the point at which any drainage facility discharges onto natural ground shall be protected from erosion;
(6) includes installation and maintenance of ground cover or other planting which will protect against erosion and instability, on the face of all cut and fill slopes in excess of three feet in vertical height; such planting is to commence as soon as slopes are completed on any portion of the site and is to be maintained so that 70 percent of the plantings are established on all slopes during construction and established prior to final approval of the grading;
(7) complies with Title 6, Division 7, Chapter 8 of this code;
(8) conforms to the setbacks stated in Section 87.412(a) and (b);
(9) is to prepare the land for the construction of a single or two-family dwelling or accessory structures;
(10) complies with either paragraph (b) or (c) below;
(12) is not for land development or borrow operation purposes where denial would be required by paragraphs (b) or (g) of Section 87.211 if major grading were involved;
(13) either will not involve waters, rivers, streams or lakes, as referenced in Section 87.214, or the applicant has submitted documentation of compliance with the requirements of that section;
(14) is accompanied by a statement signed by the owner, as to the proposed use of the graded area; and
(15) is described by grading plans or improvement plans which include the following:
(aa) vicinity sketch,
(bb) property lines,
(cc) the location of all structures in the area to be graded, including those on adjacent properties if within fifteen feet of the property line,
(dd) contour lines showing the topography of the existing ground, with a maximum contour interval of five feet;
(ee) the quantity of excavation and fill involved;
(ff) elevations, dimensions, location, extent and slopes of all proposed grading,
(gg) the setbacks from all structures and property lines as stated in Section 87.412;
(hh) all areas proposed to be subjected to any "Land Disturbance Activity" (as that term is defined in Section 67.802 of this Code);
(ii) all drainage devices, walls, cribbing, dams, stormwater protection best management practice devices or other protective devices to be constructed, including all temporary construction erosion and sediment control devices;
(jj) a map of the drainage area of the land tributary to the site;
(kk) dust control measures sufficient to comply with Section 87.428;
(ll) the location, extent and square footage of the total area to be cleared of vegetation; and
(mm) all watercourses located on the site.
(b) Minor Grading or Improvement Plans Under Jurisdiction of Director of Planning and Development Services. The Director of Planning and Development Services may approve grading plans or improvement plans for Minor Grading if he or she determines that the proposed grading complies with paragraph (a) above and:
(1) does not exceed 2,500 cubic yards and will not require more than 200 cubic yards of import or export;
(2) is on a single lot, or within an access easement serving such lot;
(3) will not be on or across or affect any surface water body and will not require the construction of any drainage structures or facilities except for berms, swales brow ditches or driveway culverts, except that a driveway crossing a water body serving a drainage area of 25 acres or less may be allowed; and
(4) will not have a cut or fill bank in excess of 20 feet measured vertically from the toe of the slope to the top of the slope.
The Director of Planning and Development Services may decline to process, and instead refer to the Director of Public Works for processing under paragraph (c) below, any application where the complexity of grading operations, potential conflict with existing or proposed easements, drainage or storm water issues, unusual soil types or conditions, or potential existence of any of the circumstances requiring denial under Section 878.211, make it more appropriate that the application be subject to the more involved review required by paragraph (c).
(c) Minor Grading Plans Under Jurisdiction of Director of Public Works. The Director of Public Works may approve grading plans or improvement plans for Minor Grading if he or she determines that the proposed grading complies with paragraph (a) above and:
(1) The proposed grading does not exceed a total of 5,000 cubic yards;
(2) The proposed grading is on a lot or adjacent lots under the same ownership, or within access easements serving such lots;
(3) The proposed grading will not be on or across or affect any surface water body, except that a driveway crossing a water body serving a drainage area of 25 acres or less may be allowed;
(4) The proposed grading will not have a cut or fill bank in excess of 25 feet measured vertically from the toe of the slope to the top of the slope;
(5) The application sets forth the estimated start and completion dates and estimated cost;
(6) The grading plans are stamped and signed by a registered civil engineer; and
(7) A calculation is included, showing that the estimated runoff of the area served by any existing or proposed drains can be accommodated by the carrying capacity of such drains.
(Added by Ord. No. 9547 (N.S.), effective 5-9-03; amended by Ord. No. 9634 (N.S.), effective 4-23-04; amended by Ord. No. 9926 (N.S.), effective 4-11-08; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)