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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6538 Staff AnalysisAugust 31, 1998 tem No.: 4 File No. Owner* Address• I]es -ri tion Zoned• Variance Requested: Justification• Z-6538 William Lamar 201 Thayer Street Part of Lot 16, Block 5, Capitol view Addition R-3 A variance is requested from the fence height provisions of Section 36-516 to permit construction of a fence which exceeds permitted height. Applicant's Statement: My reasons for requesting a variance from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance for a fence height greater than permitted are as follows: 1. in the eight years that we have lived at this location, we have had antique and collectible outdoor furniture, potted plants, and flowers stolen from our front porch and yard on several occasions. We wish to enclose an area of the front yard with a fence in which we can create a small courtyard around the front porch. We feel that a six (6) feet high fence is a minimum height to prevent theft of outdoor furniture and plants. Since we care about the historic character of our neighborhood and house, we have decided to invest in the more expensive but decorative "ornamental iron" fence for the front yard. 2. We have also had our automobiles vandalized several times and even stolen, so we wish to provide parking for our cars within a fenced area behind our house. This same August 31, 1998 No.. 4 (Con area will provide a refuge for our cats from the stray dogs that wander the neighborhood. We would like to build this fence of wood, for privacy and security, with a decorative design that blends with the historic character of the house. This fence needs to be on the side -street property line to allow enough room for parking our three automobiles inside the fence. Again, we feel this fence needs to be six (6) feet high. 3. My wife and I both work at home, so we have business information and inventory stock that are very valuable to our enterprises. Fences, with locked gates, around both entrances to our house will provide the added security we feel that we need for our business protection. Present Use of Propert : Single Family Proposed Use of PropertY: Single Family Staff Report: A. Public Works Issues: No issues B. Staff Analysis: The R-3 zoned property at 201 Thayer Street is occupied by a one-story, brick and frame, single family residence. The occupant of the home desires to erect a 6 foot tall, ornamental iron fence in a portion of the front yard and to enclose the rear yard with a 6 foot tall fence, a portion of which will be wood and a portion chain-link. The proposed iron fence will extend into the required front yard setback adjacent to Thayer Street. The property is a corner lot and a portion of the fence enclosing the rear yard will extend into the required side yard setback adjacent to West 2°d Street. The Code limits the height of fences erected within required setbacks adjacent to streets to four (4) feet. August 31, 1998 Item No.: 4 Staff believes the variance request to be reasonable. The iron fence in the front yard will create a "court yard" effect. The fence will have a front yard setback of 8 feet and side yard setbacks of 6-7 feet. The fence does not create a sight -distance hazard and should have no impact on adjacent properties. The property currently has a 4 foot chain-link fence enclosing the rear yard. The applicant proposes to replace this 4 foot fence with a 6 foot tall fence. The portion nearest the house will be constructed of wood and the remainder will be chain-link. Again, staff does not feel that the proposed fence should negatively impact adjacent properties. This portion of West 2"d Street is basically unimproved and sparsely traveled. The fence sits back from the street approximately 11 feet which should provide adequate sight -distance for vehicles backing out of the driveway. Since the proposed 6 foot tall wood fence is directly on the 2nd Street property line, and is so visible, staff believes it is reasonable to require that the fence be constructed in "good neighbor" fashion, with the finished side facing out. C. Staff Recommendation.: Staff recommends approval of the requested fence height variance subject to the wood portion of the fence being constructed in "good neighbor" fashion, with the finished side facing out. HOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (AUGUST 31, 1998) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to the wood portion of the fence being constructed in "good neighbor" fashion, with the finished side facing out. The applicant offered no additional comments. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 5 ayes, 0 noes and 0 absent. �3