Village board asks attorney to draft fence-variance ordinance for 502 Dunbar

Trustee Stacy moved on July 28 that the village attorney draft an ordinance to grant a variance allowing a front-yard fence at 502 Dunbar, after the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the variance unanimously at its July 24 public meeting. The board approved the motion by roll call. Trustee Stacy described the requested change on a plot survey and said the petitioner wants the fence to line up with an adjacent property's permitted fence and not extend too close to Indiana Street. "They don't wanna go 25 feet. She doesn't wanna be too close to Indiana," Stacy said while showing the survey display. The board did not finalize setback measurements at the meeting; staff said a final measurement would be determined before the ordinance is drafted and return to the board. The village office told the petitioner the drafted ordinance would be on the Aug. 11 meeting agenda for action. Why it matters: The variance would allow a six-foot privacy fence forward of the front building line in a portion of the front yard; the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval when it reviewed the petition on July 24. No formal vote on the ordinance occurred at the July 28 meeting; the formal ordinance draft will be prepared by the village attorney and presented for approval at the next board meeting. Ending: Petitioner and neighbors may appear at the Aug. 11 meeting when the ordinance is returned for consideration.