(A) Designation of area.
(1) Areas subject to this section shall include all soils classified as carbonate in the county soil survey.
(2) In carbonate areas, alteration and development of land may be hazardous with respect to foundation safety of structures, the creation of unstable land as a result of changes in drainage, and the contamination of ground and surface waters. Within the limitations of the information available at the time of review of individual applications, the borough shall attempt to make reasonable judgments as to the developer’s compliance with the standards of division (B) below. Under no circumstances shall the borough or any officer or employee of the borough be liable for any damages that may result from an applicant’s or any interested party’s reliance upon the regulations of division (B) below or any decisions made by the borough in the administration of such regulations.
(B) Standards.
(1) Land grading or construction of buildings or other site improvements shall not directly or indirectly diminish the flow of natural springs or contaminate existing or potential water supplies. If warranted, as determined by the Borough Council, water table data from observation wells shall be provided by the developer.
(2) All buildings, structures, roads, storm drainage facilities, utilities and other impervious surfaces shall be situated, designed and constructed to minimize the risk of structural damage from existing or future sinkholes. A professional geologist or geotechnical engineer with competence in the field shall demonstrate that a minimal risk of structural damage due to sinkholes will exist, or indicate mitigating measures to be taken to minimize the risk of structural damage.
(3) Whenever a detention or retention basin for the control of stormwater will be located in a carbonate area, a geological evaluation of the proposed location shall be conducted to determine susceptibility to sinkhole formation. The design of all basins over limestone formations shall include measures to prevent ground water contamination and, where necessary, sinkhole formation. Soils used for the construction of basins shall have low-erodibility factors (“K” factors). The borough may require the installation of an impermeable liner in basins. All detention or retention facilities shall be above ground unless otherwise approved by the Borough Council.
(4) The following guidelines shall govern during construction activities.
(a) Care should be taken to prevent collection and drainage of surface water into excavated or low lying areas of the site during excavation and construction.
(b) Soft and wet conditions should be located wherever they may exist or be encountered.
(c) Soft areas should be removed and replaced with suitable fill compacted in accordance with recognized standards.
(d) The bottom of all excavations should be inspected for soft or yielding conditions. A visual inspection of the excavated bearing surface, together with soundings or probes of the soil at regular intervals, should be done. Any soft or unusually moist soil should be further excavated and a determination made of the extent of the problem. Remedial measures should be used as necessary.
(e) The low points of swales and outlet locations for drainage pipes should be lined with impermeable liners instead of stone rip-rap in order to prevent infiltration of runoff.
(f) Excavation should be kept to a minimum.
(g) Water from roof drains or other drainage systems should be collected and conveyed away from structures to prevent infiltration near foundations. If possible, roof drains should discharge directly into a storm sewer system or the street gutter.
(h) Subsoil erosion/sinkholes that occur during the construction of a project should be corrected as quickly as possible under the supervision of a professional geotechnical engineer or geologist with competence in this field.
(i) Blasting should be avoided.
(5) Should the Borough Council find that an developer may create a significant risk to the public’s health or safety, in spite of taking all reasonable actions to minimize such risks, or should the Borough Council determine that the applicant has not taken all reasonable actions to minimize such risks, the Borough Council may deny the application.
(C) Submission requirements. The following information shall be submitted:
(1) (a) For areas proposed for grading, construction of buildings and other improvements, the developer shall indicate the presence of any of the following carbonate features:
1. Depressions;
2. Fissures, lineaments, faults or air photo fracture traces;
3. Ghost lakes occurring after rainfall events;
4. Outcrops of bedrock;
5. Seasonal high water tables;
6. Sinkholes;
7. Soil mottling, as defined by a soil scientist;
8. Springs; and
9. Surface drainage entering the ground.
(b) Such information shall be supported by documentation of its source, including the qualifications of the individuals directly responsible for preparing such information.
(2) The developer shall furnish a plan indicating existing and proposed drainage conditions, existing and proposed grading, the locations of existing private and public wells on adjoining properties and the locations and extent of all proposed uses and improvements.
(3) An environmental assessment report containing the following information:
(a) Description of existing conditions showing the property with respect to geology, topography, ground and surface water hydrology, soils, vegetation, and existing improvements and uses;
(b) Description of the proposed action including types, locations and phasing of proposed site disturbances and construction, as well as future ownership and maintenance of the property and the proposed improvements;
(c) Proposed measures to control potential adverse environmental impacts including all measures proposed by the applicant to control all adverse impacts which may occur as a result of the proposed action; and
(d) List and qualifications of preparers showing the names, addresses, telephone numbers and qualifications of persons directly responsible for preparing the environmental assessment report shall be provided.
(Ord. 1-2006, passed 5-8-2006)