Lockport Proposal Aims to Protect Topsoil

Thomas J. Prohaska

LOCKPORT -- A newly proposed law, introduced at last week's Town Board meeting, would limit the amount of topsoil a subdivision developer could haul away for sale, and it would force them to pay the town a cut of the proceeds from any sale of dirt.

The old phrase "dirt-cheap" no longer seems to apply. "They take and sell the topsoil for top dollar," Town Building Inspector Brian M. Belson said.

Developers of residential subdivisions would have to provide the town with engineers' calculations about the depth of topsoil that would be left after the work is done, the proposed law says.

"They want to make sure 6 inches of topsoil is left on a lot," Belson said. "A lot of times they scrape off the topsoil and only put 1 or 2 inches down, and it's kind of gravelly. . . Then the new homeowners are left with garbage for topsoil."

"We already have a regulation that you can't mine soil," Town Attorney Daniel E. Seaman said. "We want to make sure all the good soil's not shipped out of town."

Belson said developers can sell the topsoil they scraped away after assuring that at least 6 inches of depth remains.

But if they do, the law would force them to buy a $250 town permit and pay the town 50 cents per cubic yard of soil sold.

Belson said there was one residential subdivision recently where topsoil removal was a problem.

The proposed law will not apply to construction of one-or two-family homes on single lots, only to subdivisions, Belson said.

Another proposed law introduced last week would ban the use of snowmobiles on any town road or in any town park or other town-owned land. The ban on use on town land also would apply to any off-road vehicles.

However, as long as snowmobiles aren't driven on the shoulder of the road, the law permits their use on snowbanks bordering roads.

"It's intended to protect town roads and shoulders," Seaman said.

Public hearings on both proposed laws are scheduled for the Town Board meeting at 7:30 p. m. June 2 in Town Hall, 6560 Dysinger Road.

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Source: http://newyork.construction.com/yb/ny/article.aspx?story_id=144740985

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