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Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Amending Section 122-Article IV (Fences) of the Construction Regulations to Address Front Yard Fence Heights
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COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic Growth
MEETING DATE: March 15, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Building Inspections
CONTACT: Jeff Harris, Chief Plans Examiner
Rick Herzberger, Chief Building Official
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance
ITEM SUMMARY:
• As currently written, the height of front yard fences is limited to 2 ½ feet with no mechanism to allow staff a more thorough first review of the front yard fence and a process for a special exception for front yard fences over the required front yard maximum height.
• Staff feels like a base maximum height of 4 feet (as opposed to current 2 ½ feet) is more consistent with the surveyed cities and will also reduce the number of denied front yard fences historically submitted at a 4 foot height.
• The proposed amendment allows the City Staff a base review of front yard fence proposals.
• The proposed amendment also creates a Board of Adjustment, Special Exception process to where variations or relief from the front yard fence requirements can be sought, up to a maximum of 6 foot height, as long as certain conditions are met.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Staff received a request from a member of the development community to amend the fence ordinance to define a method to allow for taller fence heights within the front yard area of residential lots for the purposes of creating a paseo or courtyard.
• Current ordinance provisions only allow the Board of Adjustment to grant a special exception to fence heights adjacent to a subdivision wall. Appeals of an interpretation from the Chief Building Official are also heard by the Board of Adjustment.
• Staff presented a request for direction at the November 2, 2015, City Council workshop and received input from the Council for preparation of a proposed amendment to the fence ordinance.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY: N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: N/A