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Neighbors tell Burbank council fence blocked long-held hillside view; staff to contact homeowner
Summary
Residents who said a neighbor erected an unpermitted six-foot fence that blocked an established downhill view in the Joaquin Drive hillside asked the council for help; city manager said staff will contact the homeowner this week to explore options.
Residents of the Joaquin Drive hillside told the Burbank City Council on Feb. 4 that a newly built six-foot privacy fence on a neighboring lot has completely obstructed what they describe as a long-held downhill view, and they urged the city to enforce the city's hillside protections.
"We are hoping the city council can help us restore view protections," said Nora Karras, who described a series of inspections and complaints dating to 2021 after the hedge was removed and a solid fence erected without a permit.
Karras and her husband, Robert Carraz, presented photos and diagrams showing a new 6-foot solid fence they say was constructed a few days after a hedge was removed in March 2021; the Carrazes said planning staff initially told them the hillside ordinance adopted in Feb. 2006 requires a site plan, view study and permit for such construction. "I called the planner ... He said the permit would require a view study to determine the impact that the new fence and new vegetation would have on our view," Carraz said.
Attorney and longtime resident Jim Casey and realtor Mark Scroggs also spoke during public comment in support of restoring view protections and noted potential property-value impacts. Casey said earlier council actions to rescind parts of the single-family design guidelines had unanticipated consequences for view protections and urged the council to act.
During council response, City Manager said staff would follow up. "CDD is aware of the issue pertaining to the fence, and we'll reach out to the homeowner and contact them this week to follow up to see if there's any options available," the city manager said, adding staff would update council on the disposition.
Why it matters: Residents said the fence eliminated a downtown-to-Griffith Park outlook they considered a key reason for purchasing their property and that planning department staff had told them the fence required a permit under the hillside ordinance. City staff told the council they would investigate and report back this week, and the matter remains an enforcement and zoning question rather than a council vote.
The council did not take a formal vote on the matter; the city manager's office and the Community Development Department are expected to contact the homeowner and update the council on options and next steps.
