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Kenilworth planning board hears veteran's front‑yard fence request; board sets tentative setback and defers final resolution to September
Summary
A homeowner asked the board for a reasonable‑accommodation variance to leave a front‑yard fence installed without permits; the board discussed precedent and safety and agreed on a setback concept but deferred writing a binding resolution until September after survey and conditions are finalized.
A Kenilworth homeowner seeking a reasonable‑accommodation variance for a front‑yard fence told the Planning Board on June 24 the barrier is a medical necessity for his wife, a U.S. military veteran, and asked the board to allow the fence despite local zoning that generally prohibits front‑yard fences.
Quentin Rodriguez Harrison, the applicant, described the fence as "a medical and emotional necessity, not just a preference," saying his wife returned from multiple overseas tours with service‑connected trauma that makes a secure front barrier important to her daily life.
The board heard testimony, reviewed supporting letters from a veterans'service counselor and other documents, and debated public‑safety and precedent concerns. Counsel and planning staff noted the borough's zoning technically prohibits front‑yard fences and that approving an accommodation for one household can create pressure for similar requests elsewhere.
Afte…
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