More Soil Will Leave Coventry

Soil removal at Coventry at Morris Plains will be more extensive than originally planned.

The planning board Monday night gave developer Lennar a new soil disturbance permit after development manager James Harrington explained poor soil conditions on the site.

Harrington said during earthwork in the roadway and building pad areas excavators discovered soil not suitable for structural fill. He said the developer anticipated finding some poor soil, but not as much as was actually there. The poor soil is full of organic waste and silt, making it unsuitable for structural fill or even topsoil.

Of a stockpile of 3,500 yards, about 2,500 yards will be removed, Harrington said. The remaining 1,000 cubic yards will be used for common fill on open areas. The soil removed will go to Garden State Landscape Products in Glen Gardner. Harrington said the removal will take about five working days with eight to 10 trucks leaving the site every day.

Township engineer Leon Hall advised Harrington to notify the township police when the removal will begin, so they can control traffic. He said trucks loaded with soil will enter the roadway slowly.

Hall said the fees, bonds and letters of credit will have to be revised before the removal will start.