The Fernley City Council will hold a public hearing at next Wednesday’s meeting on an ordinance to amend the city’s development code to add grading definitions, clarify grading permit thresholds, slope limitations, erosion and dust control, inspection, bonding and enforcement requirements for such activities.
The proposed amendment adds a permit requirement for clearing and grubbing one acre or more and establishes slope thresholds requiring engineered grading plans and geotechnical review for grading on slopes 20 percent or greater, according to a staff report on the item presented at the first reading of the proposal at the council’s Jan. 7 meeting.
The amendment also would require erosion and sediment control plans, as well as stormwater pollution prevention plans, for disturbances of one acre or more.
It would also introduce new dust control provisions for projects disturbing five acres or more, add inspection and bonding requirements, and provide enforcement through stop work orders and penalties related to unauthorized grading or failure to maintain required controls, according to the staff report.
The report noted the amendment is necessary because the city’s development code currently defines grading activities in general terms and does not distinguish between minor site preparation and large-scale engineered earthwork.
In addition, the report indicated the existing code does not adequately address large-scale clearing or grubbing activities that can result in erosion, dust and drainage impacts even when limited grading occurs.
Associate Planner Treston Rodriguez explained at last week’s council meeting that grubbing is the removal and disposal of stumps, roots, brush and other organic materials at or below the natural ground surface in preparation for grading, excavation or construction.
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