The Mason Planning Board approved amendments to the town’s excavation regulations, following a public hearing last week.
The goals of the regulations are to provide reasonable opportunities for excavation while minimizing safety hazards and protecting health, welfare and natural resources.
Since 1979, the town has required all new excavation operations to receive a permit. Excavation that occurs during part of construction or alteration of buildings or parking lots is only subject to the regulations if the volume of earth “of sufficient weight or volume to be commercially useful” is removed from the site over a two-year period.
The town exempts excavation performed for construction of roads, buildings, parking lots, driveways, and for agricultural activities, unless it meets that threshold.
The hearing, held Wednesday, was to review proposed amendments to the excavation regulations to the sections regarding application procedures and notices required for public hearings.
The purpose of the updates was to correct a typo and add references to statutory requirements.
The process of applying for an excavation permit remains unchanged and continues to require an application for excavation approval, the notification of abutters and a public hearing, which can consider information such as the excavation plan, reclamation, erosion and sediment control plans, review of impacts to wetlands and review by the fire department.
Following the public hearing, the Planning Board approved the changes. Unlike zoning amendments, which require voter approval, regulations may be amended at any time by a vote of the Planning Board, following a public hearing.