A request for several fence variances at 202 West Wiley Street by petitioner Catherine Woodward was continued to Oct. 13 after the applicant experienced video/connectivity issues and the board could not swear her in to take testimony.

Woodward joined the Aug. 25 hearing online but was unable to enable video; the chair and staff said they could not swear her in while her video remained unavailable and therefore could not accept her live testimony. The board discussed options, including allowing staff to present the application materials in her absence. Members agreed to permit staff to present if Woodward declined to testify, but staff noted the planning department’s written recommendation had inconsistencies and, at one point, an unfavorable recommendation was indicated in the staff report.

Because the record required applicant testimony in person (or sworn remote testimony) and to resolve the discrepancy in staff recommendation, board members ultimately agreed to continue the matter to a date certain so the applicant could appear and the public notices could be accurate. The board scheduled the continued hearing for Oct. 13 and directed staff to coordinate with the petitioner on the new date.

No final action on the fence variances was taken on Aug. 25. The petition requests relief from three sections of the Unified Development Ordinance to: allow a fence within 2 feet of a sidewalk; allow a fence up to 6 feet in the front yard; and allow a front‑yard fence to be less than 50 percent transparent. The board did not vote on these variances at the Aug. 25 meeting.