DeKalb planning commission approves variance to keep existing 6-foot fence at 2324 Monticello Drive

The DeKalb City Planning and Zoning Commission voted June 16 to approve a variance allowing a 6-foot privacy fence to be reconstructed in a portion of the front yard of 2324 Monticello Drive, the property of Ed Davenport.

The vote followed a public hearing in which Davenport and a nearby neighbor said the taller fence provides safety for his swimming pool and for two large dogs. Planning staff recommended approval based on a demonstrated hardship tied to the house and lot layout, and the commission added a condition requiring additional landscaping between the fence and the sidewalk.

Davenport, the property owner, told the commission he is seeking permission to replace the fence “with the exact same style, height, and in the exact same location.” He said the house, which he bought in 2018, has…