Colleyville council approves three special-use permits for front-yard fences

The Colleyville City Council approved three special-use permits on July 15 that allow fences to be placed in front or street-side yard setbacks at three single-family properties, voting 7-0 on each ordinance.

Ben Bridal, director of community development, presented the first request for 5820 Bransford Road (Ord. O-25-2334). The lot is zoned R-20 and measures about 37,652 square feet, slightly below the 40,000-square-foot threshold in the city code that allows fences to extend to the property line. The applicant requested a 6-foot wrought-iron fence with masonry columns to extend to the front property line; staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval. The council approved the ordinance 7-0 (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Elder; second by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Richardson).

The council then considered a special-use permit at 600 Hunter Trail (Ord. O-25-2335). Bridal explained the lot is a corner property where the front-of-lot definition makes the existing fence appear to be in a front yard even though the house faces a different street. Planning & Zoning recommended a modified alignment. The applicant, identified as Kyle, told the council the proposed fence would be a five-foot, partially open horizontal cedar design and said neighbors had indicated support. Council discussion focused on sight lines, symmetry with adjacent fences and the Planning & Zoning recommendation. The council approved the ordinance 7-0 with an amendment requiring the fence to match the adjacent side in height and an open design (the applicant agreed to provide an exhibit of the proposed fence design and alignment).

The third request covered 6701 Carriage Lane (Ord. O-25-2336), another corner lot where an existing wood fence with masonry columns encloses a side-yard pool area. Bridal said the replacement wood section was installed before the applicants understood the permit requirement; staff and Planning & Zoning recommended approval, noting similar fences exist in the neighborhood. The council approved the ordinance 7-0 after a brief public explanation by the homeowner.

All three items received no opposition from nearby property owners in the staff notification process. Council members asked staff to require exhibits or clear alignment language where necessary to ensure future replacements match the approved design and do not create sight-line hazards.

Votes at a glance: Ord. O-25-2334 (5820 Bransford Road) approved 7-0; Ord. O-25-2335 (600 Hunter Trail) approved 7-0 with amendment to match adjacent fence design and 5-foot partially open horizontal cedar construction; Ord. O-25-2336 (6701 Carriage Lane) approved 7-0.