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Waldwick Planning Board OKs soil‑movement permit for single‑family house
Summary
At its February meeting the Waldwick Planning Board authorized its attorney to draft a resolution approving a major soil‑movement permit for a new single‑family home, after engineer testimony detailed 677 cubic yards of earthwork and about four trees to be removed; erosion controls and truck routing will be required.
The Waldwick Planning Board on a February meeting authorized staff to draft a resolution approving a major soil‑movement permit for the construction of a single‑family home after hearing engineer testimony about the project’s earthwork, tree impacts and erosion controls.
Bruce Whitaker, representing the applicant, introduced the application (SM26‑1) and identified Thomas G. Sterns as the engineer of record and an expert witness for the submission. Whitaker said the application covered site work tied to an approved minor subdivision and that the applicant could meet the conditions in the most recent engineering correspondence.
Thomas G. Sterns described the plans and calculations. “The total cut from the calculations was 616 cubic yards. We have our fill at 61 cubic yards. So total soil movement was 677 cubic yards and then the net soil exported from the site be 554 cubic yards,” he told the board. He also said the stone surrounding seepage pits and driveway would total about 77 cubic yards and would be imported onto the site.
Board members sought clarifications. One member asked whether the 77 cubic yards for stone included the tracking‑pad bed; Sterns said it did not and agreed to revise the calculations to include the tracking pad. The applicant confirmed that the 77 cubic yards represented imported stone only while the soil quantities stated on the application covered soil movement.
Sterns said he had returned to the site to locate trees that were not shown on an earlier plan and that approximately four trees would be removed as part of the proposed construction. He said the project team will submit a separate planting/removal plan showing which trees are to be removed and whether replacement planting or payment in lieu will be required under the borough tree ordinance. The board noted the ordinance provides an exclusion when trees lie within the footprint of a proposed structure.
The applicant also presented a soil‑erosion and sediment‑control plan; Sterns said the plan is inspected by Bergen County and intended to prevent erosion or adverse impacts to neighboring properties. Board discussion confirmed that truck routes for importing or exporting material must be coordinated with the police department and that weight or tonnage restrictions near the Allendale line may affect route selection.
After the testimony and questions, board member Tom moved and John seconded a motion instructing the borough attorney to draft a resolution memorializing the board’s action. The secretary called the roll and the motion carried with recorded affirmative votes from members present.
Next steps: the attorney will prepare the resolution for the board’s file and future approval; the applicant will provide the revised calculations that include the tracking‑pad stone and the separate tree‑plan exhibits required by the borough staff.
