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Planning Commission approves 6-foot fence at Bethel Hebrew property after split vote
Summary
After extended public testimony and debate, the commission approved a development site plan amendment to allow a six-foot open fence in the required front yard at Bethel Hebrew Congregation (Seminary Road) by a 4-3 vote following a failed motion to deny.
The Alexandria Planning Commission voted 4-3 on March 4 to approve a development site plan amendment that reduces the required front yard and allows a six-foot open fence at the Bethel Hebrew Congregation property on Seminary Road.
Maggie Cooper of the Planning and Zoning Department presented the request, explaining the property’s original building predated current site-plan requirements and noting staff recommended approval. Cooper described the proposal as an amendment to an existing 1968 site plan to permit a six-foot, roughly 75 percent-open fence in the required front yard for safety and security reasons.
Commissioner Brown moved to deny the request, arguing the commission should not “be doing drastic adjustments to front yards just to make it technically legal” and that a four-foot fence would likely be sufficient. Brown said he worried the change would set an undesirable precedent for other houses of worship in residential neighborhoods. That motion to deny received three yes votes and failed.
Commissioner Elizabeth Ramirez then offered a counter-motion recommending approval; the counter-motion passed 4-3.
Elizabeth Bayer, executive director of Bethel Hebrew Congregation, told the commission the congregation has repeatedly received Department of Homeland Security grants and that Jewish institutions are “a high target” for violence. Bayer described the fence request as part of a broader security program that includes cameras and biometric access to control entry and said the fence would help limit unsupervised access to the building’s main entrance.
Commissioners who opposed the proposal cited precedent and neighborhood character concerns; commissioners who supported approval said the property’s context, its setback from the sidewalk and documented security threats to Jewish institutions justified the exception.
Outcome: development site plan amendment approved 4-3 (motion to deny failed 3-4; counter-motion to approve passed 4-3). The commission record shows staff recommendation for approval and public testimony from the applicant’s executive director and police/security coordination noted in testimony.
The approval modifies the required front yard for the property and allows the six-foot open fence as presented to the commission.
