Loomis Municipal Code Art. VI Permit Requirements

The director of public works will issue a grading permit if the required grading plans satisfy the provisions of this chapter or any of the conditions imposed. The director of public works shall identify the provision, requirement or condition which has not been met or performed by the applicant in the event the issuance of a grading permit is denied.

(Ord. 55 § 1.28, 1987; Ord. 210 § 16, 2004)

A. The schedule of fees and costs shall be those established and adopted by the council from time to time by resolution. Before a permit is issued, the applicant shall deposit with the director of public works cash or a check, in a sufficient sum to cover the fee for issuance of the permit, charges for review of plans, specifications and reports, other engineering services, field investigations, necessary inspection or other work and routine laboratory tests of materials and compaction, all in accordance with schedules established and adopted by the council.

B. No fee shall be required of public agencies.

C. Public utilities may, at the option of the director of public works, make payment for the above charges as billed by the director of public works instead of by advance deposit as required above.

D. If, upon completion of any work under a permit there remains any excess of deposit or fees or charges, the director of public works shall certify the same to the town treasurer for refund to the permittee or refund the same from any trust fund established under his jurisdiction for purposes.

E. If, upon completion of any work under a permit there is an insufficient deposit to cover the cost of the work, the director of public works may require the permittee to reimburse the amount equal to the cost deficit before further permits may be issued for work on the parcel.

F. If grading work is done in violation of this chapter or such work is not done in accordance with an approved permit, a fee covering investigation of any violation and inspection and plan checking of work required to correct such violation shall be charged to the violator to cover all actual costs.

(Ord. 55 § 1.29, 1987)

A soil or geologic investigation report shall accompany the application in any of the following circumstances:

A. When the proposed grading includes a cut or fill exceeding ten feet in depth at any point; however, for vehicular ways, a soil investigation shall not be required unless the grading includes a proposed cut or fill that exceeds ten feet in depth and the slope of the natural ground exceeds thirty percent;

B. When highly expansive soils are suspected on the site;

C. In areas of known or suspected geological hazards, including landslide hazards and hazards of ground failure stemming from seismically induced ground shaking.

(Ord. 55 § 1.30, 1987)

A. Those portions of the soil or geologic investigation that constitute "civil engineering" as defined by Section 6734 of the Business and Professions Code of the state of California shall be conducted by a geotechnical engineer. Those portions of the investigation that involve the practice of "geology" as defined by Section 7802 of the Business and Professions Code of the state of California shall be conducted by an engineering geologist.

B. The investigations shall be based on observations and tests of the material exposed by exploratory borings or excavations and inspections made at appropriate locations. Additional studies may be necessary to evaluate soil and rock strength, the effect of moisture variation on soil, bearing capacity, compressibility, expansiveness, stability and other factors.

(Ord. 55 § 1.31, 1987)

Any soil or geologic investigation report shall be incorporated in the final plans and specifications.

(Ord. 55 § 1.32, 1987)

The soil or geologic investigation report shall contain all of the following as they may be applicable to the subject site:

A. An index map showing the regional setting of the site;

B. A site map showing the topographic features of the site and locations of all soil borings and test excavations;

C. A classification of the soil types (Unified Soil Classification); pertinent laboratory test data; and consequent evaluation regarding the nature, distribution and strength of existing soils;

D. A description of the geology of the site and geology of the adjacent areas when pertinent to the site;

E. A suitably scaled map and cross-sections showing all identified areas of land slippage.

F. A description of any encountered groundwater or excessive moisture conditions;

G. A description of the soil and geological investigative techniques employed;

H. A log for each soil boring and test excavation showing elevation at ground level and the depth of each soil or rock strata;

I. An evaluation of the stability of pertinent natural slopes and any proposed cut and fill slopes;

J. An evaluation of settlement associated with the placement of any fill;

K. Recommendations for grading procedures and specifications, including methods for excavation and subsequent placement of fill;

L. Recommendations regarding drainage and erosion control, and control of subsurface water; and

M. Recommendations for mitigation of geologic hazards.

(Ord. 55 § 1.33, 1987)

Upon completion of minor, rough or finished grading work, the director of public works may require a final geotechnical report that includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following:

A. A complete record of all field and laboratory tests including location and elevation of all field tests;

B. A professional opinion regarding slope stability, soil bearing capacity, and any other pertinent information;

C. Recommendations regarding foundation design, including soil bearing potential, and building restrictions or setbacks from the top or toe of slopes; and

D. A declaration by the geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist in the format required by the director of public works that all work was done in substantial accordance with the recommendations contained in the soil or geologic investigation reports as approved and in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.

(Ord. 55 § 1.34, 1987; Ord. 210 § 17, 2004)

Where soil or geologic conditions encountered in the grading operation deviate from that anticipated in the soil and geologic investigation reports or where such conditions warrant changes to the recommendations contained in the original soil investigation, a revised soil or geologic report shall be submitted for the approval of the director of public works.

(Ord. 55 § 1.35, 1987)

A. As the condition of the permit, the director of public works may require the permittee to provide a private geotechnical engineer to perform continuous inspection work, and upon completion of the work to provide a written statement acknowledging that he has inspected the work and that in his professional judgment the work was performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The permittee shall make his own contractual arrangements for such services and be responsible for payment of all costs. Continuous inspection by a geotechnical engineer shall include, but not be limited to, the following situations:

1. During the preparation of a site for the placement of fills which exceed five feet in depth on slopes which exceed ten percent and during the placing of such fills; however, for vehicular pathways, fill placement shall be continuously inspected when fills exceed ten feet in height;

2. During the preparations of a site for the placement of any fill and during the placement of such fill which is intended to support any building or structure;

3. During the installation of subsurface drainage facilities.

B. Reports filed by the private geotechnical engineer regarding special inspection shall state in writing that from his personal knowledge the work performed during the period covered by the report has been performed in substantial conformance with the approved plans and specifications.

C. The use of a private geotechnical engineer for inspections shall not preclude the director of public works from conducting inspections using his or other authorized inspectors as may be necessary.

(Ord. 55 § 1.36, 1987)

The permittee shall cause the work to be done in accordance with the approved plans. If during the course of construction the private geotechnical engineer finds that the work is not being done substantially in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, he shall immediately notify the person in charge of the work and the director of public works of the nonconformity and the corrective measures to be taken. When changes in the plans are required, the permittee shall cause preparation of proposed changes and submit them to the director of public works for approval.

(Ord. 55 § 1.37, 1987)

As a condition of the permit, periodic progress reports shall be rendered by the private geotechnical engineer as required by the director of public works including, but not limited to, laboratory tests, slope stability, placement of materials, retaining walls, drainage, utilities and any special permit or plan requirements.

(Ord. 55 § 1.38, 1987)

Periodic progress reports shall be rendered by permittee on specified calendar dates and at commencement and completion of major key grading and erosion and sediment control operations. The dates of operations upon which such reports are required and their content shall be as required by the director of public works in the permit.

(Ord. 55 § 1.39, 1987)

Permittee shall submit to the director of public works an as-built grading plan following completion of grading operations.

(Ord. 55 § 1.40, 1987)

The director of public works may inspect any work done pursuant to a permit under this chapter. No permittee shall be deemed to have complied with this chapter until a final inspection of the work has been made by the director of public works and he has certified in writing that the work has been completed in accordance with all requirements and conditions of the permit. The permittee shall provide adequate access to the site for inspection by the director of public works during the performance of all work and for a minimum period of one year after acceptance by the director of public works of all improvements pursuant to other subsections herein.

(Ord. 55 § 1.41, 1987)

The permittee shall also be responsible for the following:

A. Protection of Utilities. The permittee shall be responsible for the prevention of damage to any public utilities or services.

B. Protection of Adjacent Property. The person(s) doing and causing the grading is responsible for the prevention of damage to adjacent property. No person(s) shall excavate on land sufficiently close to the property line to endanger any adjoining public street, sidewalk, alley or other public or private property, without supporting and protecting such property from damage which might result.

C. Advance Notice. The permittee shall notify the director of public works at least two working days prior to the start of work.

D. Erosion and Sediment Control. It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to prevent discharge of sediment from the site to any watercourse, drainage system, or adjacent property and to protect watercourses and adjacent properties from damage by erosion, flooding, or deposition of debris which may result from the permitted grading. Permittee shall implement all measures necessary to discharge this responsibility even if such measures exceed the requirements of an approved erosion and sediment control plan prepared pursuant to this chapter. Such measures include cleanup and sediment or debris leaving the site.

E. Work hours shall be 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. No work shall occur before of after the time specified, or the town may terminate the permit. No work on weekends or holidays unless approved in writing by the town.

(Ord. 55 § 1.42, 1987; Ord. 210 § 18, 2004)