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Taunton resident with autistic son urges zoning change for corner-lot fences; council refers issue to zoning committee
Summary
A Taunton homeowner told the council he built a four-foot vinyl fence around his corner lot to protect his nonverbal autistic son, but the city informed him it violates corner‑lot rules; the council directed the zoning committee to review corner-lot fence permitting and appeals.
A Taunton homeowner told the municipal council Tuesday that his family’s recently installed four-foot fence on a corner lot is in violation of the city’s corner-lot fencing rules, and asked the council to make appeals and permit requirements more accessible to residents with disability‑related safety needs.
The resident, Matthew Galano of West Weir/Orchard Street, said he built the fence to protect his nonverbal autistic five‑year‑old son and to give the family a safe yard; he said he did due diligence online but did not realize corner lots were treated differently and that an appeal would cost thousands of dollars. Councilors heard the request and referred the corner‑lot and fence-permit matter to the zoning committee for review.
Why it matters
The petitioner framed his request as an ADA‑sensitive safety concern: he said his son has a history of walking away and that removing or lowering the fence would make the yard unsafe. He also said the city website language was unclear for ordinary homeowners, and that the appeal timetable and cost make the review process inaccessible to many residents.
Council response and referral
Councilors agreed to refer Galano’s request and related questions about corner‑lot fence permitting to the committee that oversees zoning issues; the referral gives the zoning committee the opportunity to review the rule language, permit thresholds, the appeals timeframe and whether a lower‑cost or expedited review path is feasible for disability‑related safety concerns.
What the resident asked for
Galano requested (1) clearer public guidance on fence permit requirements for corner lots, (2) an appeal process that does not require large up‑front costs from residents with safety or ADA considerations and (3) staff assistance to clarify whether enforcement involves fines during an administrative or appeal period. The council asked staff to prepare answers and to place the matter on the zoning committee agenda.
Ending
The zoning committee will review corner‑lot permit language and the appeal process; staff and the petitioner were told the council seeks a fair and transparent mechanism for homeowners to raise urgent safety or disability‑related concerns without immediate penalties while an appeal is pending.
