ARC approves composite (Trex) replacement fence at Hyde Park bungalow with conditions

The Architectural Review Commission on [date of hearing] unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing the replacement of an existing rear/side fence at 1822 West Hills Avenue with a six-foot composite (Trex) fence, with conditions requiring the fence to be recessed behind the house's corner boards where it meets the building.

The approval follows a staff recommendation and a letter of support from the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association; commissioners said the material and detailing presented were compatible with the district so long as the fence did not obscure the home's primary geometry facing the street. The commission required that where the fence joins the house it be set behind the corner boards and that the portion on the zoning front be recessed beyond the main facade.

Property owner Rob Carey told the commission the current wood fence was badly damaged by recent storms and years of weathering, and that the owners sought a composite wood-alike product for durability, reduced maintenance and sustainability. Carey said the material is composed largely of recycled content, is resistant to insects and rot, and carries a 25-year warranty. He said the owners planned a modest relocation on the Albany-facing side of the lot, moving the fence out approximately six to eight feet to increase usable backyard area around an existing pool.

Ron Vila, historic preservation staff, said the application required commission review because the material is an alternative to traditional wood and vinyl, and staff had concluded the proposed Trex-style material met Hyde Park design guidelines for scale, color and texture. Vila noted the board has previously declined vinyl and that alternative materials are reviewed case by case.

Commissioners asked for details on color and long-term appearance; the applicants indicated they were considering a Winchester Gray tone but were open to alternatives. Commissioners also pressed that fence posts and detailing avoid damaging nearby tree roots, and that posts be located to minimize root conflicts.

A motion to grant a certificate of appropriateness for the drawings and documents presented carried unanimously. The commission recorded the approval with two specific conditions: that the portion of the fence on the zoned frontage be recessed beyond the primary geometry of the house, and that both sides of the fence where they join the house be connected past the corner boards.

The commission and staff emphasized that approval of an alternative material on this site does not automatically approve the product for other locations; staff and commissioners said alternative materials will continue to be evaluated case by case.

What's next: The applicant will return with final construction details that reflect the recessing conditions and post locations that avoid major tree roots, after which staff will confirm compliance with the conditions noted by the ARC.