Leawood BZA approves 6-foot fence on west property line at 3100 W. 90th St.

The Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 22 approved a request to install a six-foot wooden privacy fence along the west property line at 3100 West 90th Street.

Planning staff reported the applicant sought a fence-height exception under the Leawood Development Ordinance (LDO). The staff memo said the applicant would install the fence next to an existing six-foot fence to the north and that the applicant indicated the current chain-link fence along part of the line is not on the applicant’s property.

Applicant Chris Richards, 3100 West 90th Street, told the board the chain-link fence belongs to the neighbor and that his proposed six-foot vertical wood fence would not replace the neighbor’s chain link; a roughly two-foot gap would remain between the two fences. "We would like a six-foot fence mainly for privacy," Richards said, and added the fence would match the existing vertical wood fence on the neighboring property to the north. He also said his household’s reasons included the neighbor having four dogs.

Board members asked about maintenance of the narrow space between the two fences and Richards said the vegetation is on his side and he would remove it and maintain the gap. Planning staff noted the address had previously received a six-foot exception on the east side of the property earlier in the year.

A board member moved to approve Case 46-2025, 3100 West 90th Street, a request for a fence height exception under LDO section 16-4-9.5 in an R-1 district; the motion carried on a voice vote. The board indicated members present said "aye" and the chair said the request had passed. The applicant was told he would be notified in writing.

Two relevant points from the record: the proposed fence will be vertical wood to match existing fences, and the applicant said he will maintain the vegetation in the narrow area between the proposed fence and the neighbor's chain link fence.