Board approves 8-foot fence on corner lot at Norman Bridge Road with one-foot variance; 7-foot limit retained elsewhere

The Montgomery City Architectural Review Board on Oct. 12 approved a Certificate of Appropriateness and granted a one-foot height variance to allow an 8-foot wood privacy fence along the corner of a property at the intersection of Norman Bridge Road and Winthrop Court, citing corner-lot traffic and noise as a distinguishing hardship.

Applicant Connor Holloway told the board he sought increased fence height primarily to gain privacy from heavy traffic, headlights and pedestrian activity on Norman Bridge Road. Holloway said he and his wife endure frequent noise that penetrates the front windows and described occasional instances of people approaching house windows.

Garden District Preservation Association representative Laura Callaway said the association was conflicted but understood the applicant’s need for peaceful habitation. Board members discussed whether an 8-foot fence on a corner would set a precedent and whether the request was unique to this property. Several members noted the lot’s corner location, traffic noise and sight-line concerns as factors that distinguish it from typical residential lots on Norman Bridge Road.

The board voted to approve an 8-foot fence along the Norman Bridge-facing side of the property and to keep a 7-foot height along the Winthrop-facing side and at the vehicle parking area. Members also recommended landscaping—shrubs or trees on the inside of the fence—to soften the visual effect and maintain sight lines. The board’s approval included a separate motion granting a one-foot height variance on the corner elevation; the motion’s justification cited the corner-lot hardship from traffic, noise and visibility. The transcript does not record numerical vote tallies.