Zoning board approves 6-foot privacy fence variance at 219 Barbados Drive

The Cheektowaga Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 17 approved variances permitting a 6-foot privacy fence at 219 Barbados Drive to be located 7 feet from the property line, where the zoning law requires a 10-foot setback and limits side-yard fences to 3.5 feet.

The board heard from Amanda Menke, the applicant, who said she wants to replace her existing privacy fence and move it because "there's a gas line running directly underneath where the fence line is along the Barbados side." Menke told the board she would move the fence no more than 7 feet from the property line to provide "additional privacy and security being that I am on the corner lot." She said a neighbor directly behind her emailed an approval and that the change would not interfere with driveways.

Board members noted the project had been tabled at a previous meeting for posting reasons. The board member making the motion to grant the variances was not named on the record; the motion was seconded. The board recorded ayes from the three members present who voted: Miss Warchak, Mister Kenny Young and Miss Ault. Trustee Miranda, who attended by teleconference, was unable to vote but participated in discussion.

The request involved two separate variances recorded by the zoning official: permission for a 6-foot fence in a required side yard (zoning law permits a maximum of 3.5 feet) and permission to locate a 6-foot fence 7 feet from the property line where the code calls for a 10-foot setback. The applicant said the relocation is necessary because of the underground gas line and the corner-lot location.

The board’s vote approved both variances as requested; conditions or amendments were not recorded in the transcript.

The applicant thanked the board and left the podium after the vote.