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Board denies corner-lot request for 6-foot fence at 922 Morning Dove Lane
Summary
The Zoning Board denied a variance to allow a 6-foot fence along the Crim Street side of a corner lot at 922 Morning Dove Lane, finding no practical difficulty sufficient to override the 4-foot front-yard limit.
The Bowling Green Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny a variance request from Benjamin Maxwell that would have allowed a 6-foot fence along the Crim Street frontage of his corner lot at 922 Morning Dove Lane.
Maxwell, who said this is his first home, told the board he sought a taller fence because he owns a dog that he feared could jump a 4‑foot fence and because much of the rest of his yard will be enclosed at 6 feet. “I don’t know. I’ve seen him jump him before, to be honest,” Maxwell said when asked whether a 4‑foot fence would contain the dog.
Planning staff explained that the city’s fence rules (section 150.79, Table 25) limit front‑yard fences to 4 feet and that a corner lot effectively has two front yards, so the Crim Street side is limited to 4 feet. Staff described the requested 50‑foot plus 14‑foot stretch (64 feet total) along Crim Street as the affected segment. No written objections were received and standard notices were posted and mailed, staff said.
Board members discussed precedent and neighborhood character, with several saying they saw little evidence of a practical difficulty that would warrant an exception. One member cited a prior corner‑lot case and said visual effects could be undesirable. Another member noted similar corner‑lot configurations had been handled conservatively and expressed reluctance to change that approach.
A motion to approve the variance, moved by Jeff Crawford and seconded by David Flager, failed on roll call. Jerry Anderson and Jeff Crawford voted yes; Julie Broadwell, Rod Noble, David Flager and Jay Sockman voted no; Tim Emmert voted yes; David Flager’s vote was recorded as no earlier in the roll call sequence and the chair announced the request was not approved. The chair told Maxwell he could appeal to the Wood County Court of Common Pleas.
Maxwell indicated he could install a 4‑foot fence if required. The board did not prescribe further remediation or alternatives beyond the cited code requirements.
