§ 2.11 GRADING REGULATIONS.
   A.   Intent and scope of requirements. Compliance with the grading regulations set forth herein shall be required as follows:
      1.   Intent. Grading regulations are established to control the and of land, to assure adequate drainage away from and to a natural or established drainage course, and to assure protection of trees on sites where grading is to take place. The regulations set forth herein also establish procedures and requirements for grading permits, inspection of finished grading operations, and penalties for violation of the grading regulations.
      2.   Scope of application. (revised 10/1/2002, 1/12/2010) A grading permit shall be required in all instances where grading, excavating, , stockpiling, or other to the land exceeding 50 cubic on any one are proposed. Grading permits shall be subject to requirements in the adopted building code of the , dealing with when permits are required, exempted work, hazards, grading permit requirements, bonds, cuts and fills, , drainage and terracing, erosion control, grading inspection, and completion of work. The grading permit fee shall be established by resolution of the .
   B.   Grading plan.
      1.   Grading plan.    (revised 1/12/2010) In the event that a grading permit is required, the applicant shall first submit a grading plan for review and approval. Grading plans submitted in conjunction with site plan review shall be prepared by a registered professional land surveyor or civil engineer. Grading plans shall be subject to review and approval by the or .
      2.   Grading plan standards. At a minimum, grading plans shall show elevations adjacent to existing and proposed and at the nearest side of on adjacent properties, and sufficient existing and proposed elevations on the site to be altered and on as much of the adjacent property as is necessary to establish the proposed surface water drainage pattern. If or is proposed, the amount of material to be excavated or filled shall be indicated on the grading plan. All elevations shall be based on United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) datum. Elevations and location of bench marks used for determining elevations shall be shown on the plan.
      3.   Subdivision grading plans. For any proposed subdivision, a grading plan prepared by a registered land surveyor or civil engineer shall be submitted with the preliminary subdivision plan. The grading plan shall show the topography of the area to be platted, the existing drainage pattern, and the proposed surface water drainage pattern. Drainage shall be provided across private property where necessary for handling surface drainage from adjacent properties.
   C.   Grading standards. 
      1.   Slope away from . All and shall be constructed at an elevation which provides a sloping away from the or , thereby causing surface water to drain away from the walls of the to a natural or established drainage course. Unless insufficient space exists on a site, a minimum 5% slope away from all sides of a or shall be provided for a minimum distance of ten feet.
      2.   Runoff onto adjacent properties. New shall not be established that would permit an increase in the runoff of surface water onto adjacent properties, except through established drainage courses.
      3.   Stockpiling. Stockpiling of soil, sand, clay, gravel, and similar material shall be prohibited, except where permitted as part of an approved operation, approved construction project, or approved use in an industrial district. Aside from these exceptions, all material brought onto a site in Williamstown Township shall be graded to match the natural on adjoining . These restrictions shall not be construed to prohibit MDNR-monitored clean-up of contaminated soil.
      4.   Clean .  material brought into the shall be free of contamination from , debris, , or waste. The may require verification from a qualified soil testing laboratory that the is free of all contamination.
      5.   Removal of soil, sand, clay, gravel, and similar material by a commercial operation. Businesses engaged in the removal of soil, sand, clay, gravel, and similar materials, rather than the moving, grading, or leveling of soil, sand, clay, gravel, or similar materials on a site for the purposes of preparing the site for construction or another permitted shall comply with the regulations set forth for such uses in § 2.13.
      6.    of holes. The or continued existence of unprotected holes, pits, or wells that constitute or are reasonably likely to constitute a danger or menace to the public health, safety, and welfare is prohibited. However, this restriction shall not apply to for which a permit has been acquired from the , provided such are properly protected with fencing, guard rails, and warning . This section also shall not apply to , streams, ditches, reservoirs, or other bodies of water under the jurisdiction of the State of Michigan, County of Ingham, Township of Williamstown, or other governmental agency.
   D.   Review, inspection, and approval procedures. 
      Grading plans shall be reviewed by the and/or . In the event that the grading plan is submitted in conjunction with a site plan, the shall review the grading plan as a part of normal site plan review. The shall review all plans for commercial profit-oriented operations as specified in subsection C.5. The shall issue a grading permit after the determination has been made that the requirements set forth herein and in other applicable ordinances have been complied with.
      Compliance with a grading plan and permit shall be verified by the after visual on-site inspection. Before final inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the rough grading must be completed; final grading shall be completed within six months after a certificate of occupancy has been issued.
(Ord. passed 7-9-2013)