The City of Daytona Beach Board of Adjustment on Sept. 18 approved a variance allowing a six-foot aluminum picket fence around the property at 416 North Ridgewood Avenue and a gate placed at the parcel boundary, after the applicant said overnight activity at the site posed a safety risk.
The panel approved the variance after adding a modification that the front section of the fence be located behind the existing shrubbery along Ridgewood to preserve the property’s appearance.
Joanne Roberts, identified in the application as the representative of the Pregnancy Crisis Center at the address, told the board the center has increased security measures in recent years and continues to experience overnight activity, discarded donations that included uncapped hypodermic needles and other hazardous items, and human waste on exterior stairs and walkways. "This is really gross," Roberts said, describing the risks to clients and volunteers. She said the center installed additional lighting in 2020 and upgraded cameras in August 2022 but still sees unwanted foot traffic overnight.
Melissa Phillips, development review technician and acting clerk, displayed security images provided by the applicant and noted the board had the photos available for review. Board members asked whether the front landscaping could be preserved by locating the fence behind shrubs; Roberts said she would consider locating the fence behind the shrubbery along Ridgewood and keeping the driveway access functional from Hobart side.
The variance request sought relief from the City of Daytona Beach Land Development Code (Article 6, sections 6.2(e)(1), 6.8(c)(4) and 6.8(d)(1)) to increase the maximum fence height between the front of the structure and the front parcel boundary from 4 feet to 6 feet, reduce the front setback from 5 feet to 0 feet, and reduce required drive gate stacking from 20 feet to 0 feet. The approved change will permit a six-foot-high aluminum picket fence around the perimeter and a drive gate at the parcel boundary; the board’s approval included the relocation of the front fence behind the shrubbery on Ridgewood.
Board members noted the driveway is used during the day for client access and deliveries and that the gate would typically be closed only when the center is closed. One audience member raised concerns about on-street stacking when cars must stop for gate opening.
The Board of Adjustment recorded a 6-0 vote in favor of the motion. The roll call recorded David Betts, Charlene Barhoun, Patrick Connors, Charles Cameron, Leon McCray and Brent Johnson as voting yes. The motion text approved the variance with the modification to relocate the front fence behind the shrubbery.
The center also said it prefers a white fence finish to soften the appearance and that security video retention is limited (the applicant said video holds for seven days). The board did not change other conditions or require additional changes to driveway operation; the applicant confirmed the gate would be open during daytime operations to allow client access.