Glendale council hears extensive debate on proposed front-yard fence rules, refers code rewrite to planning commission

The Glendale Common Council on (date of meeting) referred a proposed zoning-code amendment that would tighten front-yard fence, hedge and windbreak rules to the Planning and Architecture Review Commission for further drafting and a detailed staff memo.

Council members and staff framed the draft as an attempt to address neighbor complaints about small, fenced-in front-yard enclosures — examples cited included a dog run and a front-yard vegetable garden with temporary rabbit fencing — while preserving allowed natural landscaping and other lawful uses.

City staff presented the draft amendment, which would (as drafted) require permits for some low front-yard fences (including fences three feet tall and under if the fence exceeds a defined linear length), limit front-yard fence styles to decorative picket, split-rail or low masonry walls, and prohibit materials such as chicken wire, barbed wire, plain chain link and snow fence in residential front…