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Council discusses proposed screening, buffering and front-yard fence changes; staff to return with ordinance language
Summary
City staff presented proposed changes to screening, buffering and front-yard fence rules, including alternative screening methods, planting matrices, material restrictions and limits on front-yard fence height and visibility. Council offered direction on preferred limits and asked staff to draft ordinance language for Planning & Zoning review.
Decatur — City staff presented draft changes to the zoning code’s screening, buffering and fencing rules and sought council direction on materials, setbacks, maintenance and how to handle existing front-yard fences.
What staff proposed: staff outlined alternatives to the existing required 6–8 foot masonry screening wall for buffer areas between multifamily/nonresidential uses and single-family neighborhoods. Proposals included combinations of privacy walls or fences supplemented with landscaped planting strips, a matrix tying buffer width to minimum tree and shrub counts per 100 linear feet, and discretionary review by the planning director for location, height and materials. For front-yard fences staff proposed limiting front-yard fence height to 36 inches (50%…
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