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DeKalb planning commission approves variance for 6-foot privacy fence at 1158 South Fifth Street
Summary
On July 21, 2025, the DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance to allow a 6-foot privacy fence in part of the front yard along Charter Street at 1158 South Fifth Street to avoid removal of mature trees and to replace deteriorating chain-link fencing.
On Monday, July 21, 2025, the DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a variance to the Unified Development Ordinance permitting a 6-foot-high privacy fence to be built in a portion of the front yard along Charter Street at 1158 South Fifth Street. The motion passed in a recorded roll call with four commissioners voting yes: Commissioner O'Flaherty, Commissioner Pena Graham, Commissioner Wright and Chair Maxwell.
The variance allows homeowners Rick and Teresa Sharp to place the fence approximately 14 feet from the south side of their house along Charter Street, rather than the 10-foot setback required by code. The Sharp family told the commission they have used the 18-foot space for 33 years and asked for the setback adjustment to avoid removing a large birch, two Japanese maples and three apple trees and to replace a deteriorating chain-link fence. Teresa Sharp said, “We live on the corner ... When we purchased our home 33 years ago to raise our two boys, the backyard was and still is enclosed by a rather ugly cyclone fence,” and described losing shade perennials if forced to move the fence to the 10-foot line.
Staff recommended approval, citing the lot’s narrow 50-foot width and an unusually long 169-foot lot depth as a hardship that affects how a fenced yard can be arranged on a corner parcel. The planning staff report referenced two prior variances for similarly narrow corner lots approved last year and noted five written communications from neighbors in support of the Sharp application (Heather O'Connor, a resident at 1156 South Fifth Street; Katalak at 430 Charter Street; Joseph and Ilya Lorenzo of 602 [address]; Susan Funt of 504 Charter Street; and Tyler and Courtney Wolbright of 529 Charter Street). The report also identified conditions and presented exhibit A of the staff report dated 07/17/2025 as the approved drawing.
During the public hearing, Rick and Teresa Sharp said they planned to replace the chain-link with a professionally installed, 1-inch-thick cedar (described as “copper wood”) fence by Peerless Fence, and that the fence would also enclose a camper and a new woodworking shop to be placed in the backyard. Staff described a small “corner clip” on the east side of the proposed fence to preserve sight lines for the alley and indicated all posts would be installed on the applicants’ side of the property line after a property-pin locator is used.
Formal action: Commissioner O'Flaherty moved approval of a variance to Articles 7.06.3, 7.06.4(b) and 7.06.6 of the Unified Development Ordinance as shown on exhibit A of the staff report dated 07/17/2025; the motion was seconded and carried. The commission’s recorded yes votes were O'Flaherty, Pena Graham, Wright and Chair Maxwell; no written oppositions were recorded in the hearing minutes.
The commission’s approval permits the Sharp family to erect the fence as shown in exhibit A; the staff report and the commission’s motion did not impose additional conditions beyond the approved exhibit. Installation is expected to proceed under local permit requirements and in coordination with property-pin locating to confirm post placement.
