Macedonia council adopts ordinance to allow solid privacy fences, changes yard definitions

Macedonia City Council on Feb. 13 approved Ordinance 80-20-24 to amend portions of Chapters 11.33 and 11.71 of the city’s codified ordinances to revise yard definitions and allow solid privacy fences.

Councilmember Hunter, who presented the ordinance and prepared a synopsis of changes, told the council he had spent roughly six months gathering input and said, "This is what the residents want. I think they should be able to have a choice." He said the revision restores what some residents considered a lost use of their property caused by earlier zoning definitions for corner lots.

The ordinance changes include redefining front, side and rear yards to remove ambiguities on corner lots; an explicit allowance for solid privacy fences where lawful; and removal of the current 25% light-and-air surface-visibility requirement for certain fence types. Councilmember Hunter and others also noted a 10-foot setback from the right-of-way for corner lots to address sightline and traffic-safety concerns.

Hunter told council he had discussed safety concerns with the police department and said the police had not objected to allowing solid fences. He also cited a local fence installer’s claim that modern fencing materials can withstand wind gusts up to 150 miles per hour and said the city’s experience showed most fence damage is caused by falling trees rather than wind. Hunter said the box or board-on-board style previously required under the code typically costs about $600 more than a solid fence on a typical half-acre lot, and he framed the change as increasing homeowner choice and potential cost savings for residents who prefer solid privacy fences.

The planning commission had recommended against allowing solid fences; Hunter said the council was not bound by that recommendation and that the ordinance before the council included the solid-fence language. Councilmember Ventura moved to amend the ordinance to conform to the most recent version distributed to council; that motion was adopted by voice vote. The council then moved for final passage; the transcript records the passage by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 80-20-24 (amending Chapters 11.33 and 11.71 to revise yard definitions and permit solid privacy fences): motion to amend adopted; ordinance passed (voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript; no roll-call tally published in the transcript). - Acceptance of donation: $20 from resident Jay Johnson to the police department — accepted (voice vote). - Cancellation of the March 27 council meeting — motion passed (voice vote).

What the ordinance does and what remains (discussion vs. decision) - Decision: Council voted to adopt the ordinance as amended; the change permits solid privacy fences under the city code and revises yard definitions for corner lots. - Discussion: Council and the presenting member debated safety and appearance concerns, vendor durability claims, and cost differences between fence styles. The planning commission’s recommendation against solid fences was noted but not adopted by the council. - Direction: The ordinance, as adopted, includes a 10-foot setback from the right-of-way on corner lots to reduce sightline obstructions; no further study or referral was recorded in the transcript.

Context and next steps - Hunter said the ordinance had previously had two second readings and one first reading and that residents had been awaiting final action. The transcript does not record any litigation, external approvals, or implementation schedule tied to the ordinance; it will take effect according to the city’s normal ordinance-adoption rules (not specified in the transcript).

Ending: The council completed other routine business after the ordinance vote, including accepting the small donation and formally canceling the March 27 meeting; no further conditions or follow-up assignments related to Ordinance 80-20-24 were recorded in the meeting transcript.