Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winchester seeks conditional use permit for 8-foot screening fence, mural along North Kent Street
Summary
City staff presented a request for a conditional use permit allowing an 8-foot precast concrete fence to screen a CSX-owned railroad storage yard between new detention ponds on North Kent Street; staff and commissioners discussed fence height, design variations and a community mural.
The Winchester City planning staff presented a request for Conditional Use Permit CUP-25-231 asking to allow an 8-foot screening fence along a CSX railroad storage yard on North Kent Street, with the City of Winchester acting as the applicant.
Planning staff said the city is building stormwater detention ponds near North Cameron and North Kent streets and intends the ponds and adjacent land to serve as a public green space. “The city is acting as the applicant,” said Mr. Benson, planning staff. He described the proposal as an 8-foot precast concrete panel fence by the Superior Company to screen the storage yard from the new public area.
The request seeks an exception to the zoning rule that limits front-yard fences to 4 feet and requires at least 25% openness. The CUP criteria presented to the commission allow a taller opaque fence only if the property cannot reasonably meet existing standards or if the taller design better fits the character of the area. Mr. Benson said the City is pursuing the CUP because the central parcel remains in private ownership by CSX and “we tried to buy that when we bought the other parcels. They refused to sell it to us.”
Commissioners and staff discussed design alternatives and public uses. Commissioner Bloom suggested varying the fence face and heights and adding niches or reveals to reduce visual monotony; Bloom said allowing some 6-foot sections alongside 8-foot sections could improve the mural canvas and overall appearance. “It would be nice if you could have some relief in the face of that fence … maybe some 6‑foot, maybe some 8‑foot sections would make it more visually interesting,” Bloom said.
Staff said the city’s public services and communications teams are coordinating with the North End community to paint a mural on the fence that “would go the length of North Kent Street” as shown in the presentation. Commissioners asked whether the CUP would also cover the mural; Mr. Benson indicated he did not believe the CUP application would need a separate mural CUP.
Safety and pedestrian access around the detention ponds were also raised. A city staff member said the ponds themselves will have a separate, lower decorative 4‑foot fence to restrict direct access, while the taller screen would be placed along the CSX property line. Commissioners asked about a pedestrian bridge over the tracks; staff replied the city previously received a $1 million federal grant for design work but said that funding was canceled by the federal administration and there is currently no funding for a bridge.
Commissioners signaled support for flexibility in final fence height and design and encouraged staff to allow design creativity to assist muralists while maintaining safety around the ponds. No formal action or vote was recorded in the work session; staff said the commission will consider the CUP more formally at a later meeting.
The planning staff presentation included images of the storage yard and the proposed fence alignment and noted the design intent to screen the CSX property where the railroad has not maintained the site. Staff also emphasized that the ponds and surrounding landscaping will be intended as a public green space when complete.
