Operational requirements.
§ 255-1030. Operational requirements.
A. The area of excavation shall be set back in accordance with § 255-1040A. This buffer zone shall be vegetated, maintaining naturally existing vegetation to the maximum extent possible, to screen the site from visual, noise, and dust impacts on neighboring uses. Rock crushing equipment and other apparatus shall be set back a minimum of 1,000 feet from the property line. Noise control berms may be appropriate to reduce potential impacts on adjacent properties and landowners. Where no natural vegetation exists, plantings or a fence shall be installed.
B. Erosion control measures shall be employed throughout the development and operational phases of the extraction project. These may include the use of quick growing vegetation, mulching, screening, stabilization, siltation fences, or other means as deemed necessary by the Town Engineer. The maximum unvegetated areas shall be five acres. For safety reasons during excavation, the slope shall be no greater than two feet horizontal to one foot vertical (2:1).
C. Site restoration shall commence immediately upon the cessation of extraction operations and shall be completed successfully within one year, in accordance with the restoration plan required and described in § 255-1050. As sections of the extraction operation are completed, temporary site restoration shall proceed to minimize erosion until the comprehensive restoration plan is implemented.
D. Equipment storage shall be for on-site use only, and solely for the duration of the permitted earth removal operations.
E. There shall be at least a four-foot separation between the lowest elevation of excavated material and the maximum high groundwater elevation.
F. All work shall be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturdays. No work shall take place on Sundays and legal holidays. The Zoning Board of Review may modify these hours on a case-by-case basis if there is a public hearing preceding the approval for a modification.
G. All roads accessing and within the site shall be treated only with water to minimize dust conditions.
H. In the permitted areas, ledge shall not be left exposed above the approved grade, and all cleared trees, stumps and brush shall be removed or completely buried. If buried, a plan showing the location of all such buried trees, stumps, or other materials subject to subsequent compacting by decay shall be filed with the Building Inspector. However, no trees, stumps, or other material subject to decay shall be buried at an elevation within four feet of the maximum high groundwater elevation.
I. Earth removal operations shall be limited to five acres at any given time. Additional acreage may not be disturbed until site restoration has commenced on previously excavated areas. Said phasing of the operations shall be part of the Zoning Board of Review approval.