Front-yard fences could be a thing of the past if changes discussed by the Planning Commission move forward. The changes are, for now, just talk.
At the Planning Commission's last work session, members began the discussion about fences by examining a recommendation made by the Board of Adjustments to reword city code regarding front-yard fences. During that conversation, members of the Planning Commission began talking about phasing out fences in front of the front plane of a house.
The Board of Adjustments hears requests for variances from requirements of city code.
The board recommended that an eight-foot-tall fence should start at a lot's setback line. The code includes limitations on where fences can be placed, their height, and their distance to the street.
These rules mostly would apply to houses with front yards that differ from surrounding homes. City staff member Jennifer Bonner gave the example of a lakefront home that is on the very back of its lot, making its front yard 100 feet deep.
"They have nowhere to keep their dog, no place to build a pool, and no place to protect their garden from animals," Bonner said.
The current code, which is around three years old, does not apply to homes in agriculture zones.
Bonner said the staff was trying to do away with the amount of front yard fences that had to be taken to the Board of Adjustments because of the way the current code is written. The wording would simplify things for the staff, Bonner said. She noted that the commission could completely drop the change if they wished.
Some commission members said that they do not like the idea of front yard fences at all. Bonner said that several Board of Adjustments members said the same thing. At first, members assumed that the idea was a non-starter, but soon realized that the majority of the commission agreed.
"It sounds like that is what the majority of the commission is saying," commission chairman Daniel Ellis said.
The commission noted that variances could still be acquired for individual cases.
"If somebody wanted to, they could take their variance to the Board of Zoning Adjustments and leave it up to them," said commission member Theresa Neal.
Planning commission member Don Robinson said his problem with front yard fences is the ease with which it could block views of oncoming traffic.
"If somebody puts a fence all the way out to the street with a curve, and a car is coming down the street, the person turning can't see a thing because that eight foot fence is standing there," he said.
The planning staff will write the new language as the Planning Commission sees fit before it is re-examined. If the Planning Commission votes in the future to recommend the changes, the proposal will head to the City Council for a vote.
"If you guys decide to drop it, you can just say 'we are not changing the code,'" Bonner said.
General News on 02/10/2016