Commission declines to accept 6-foot vinyl fence at Sudbrook Park expansion; owner told to resubmit in wood or modified design

The Baltimore County Local Historic Preservation Commission declined to accept a 6‑foot white vinyl privacy fence installed without prior approval at 614 Milford Mill Road (part of the Sudbrook Park Expansion historic district) and asked the property owner to return with a revised proposal that meets the county’s historic‑design guidance.

Staff reported that the property owner or contractor installed 167 linear feet of 6‑foot vinyl fencing along the rear and side yards, replacing a prior 72‑foot run of chain‑link fence. Staff said no building permit or Commission approval had been obtained before installation; the contractor subsequently applied for a permit after staff was alerted. Staff noted that while the fence height and location conform to fence guidance for rear yards, the vinyl material is not the preferred material under the Baltimore County Historic Design Guidelines and may be considered only on a case‑by‑case basis.

Owner Mr. Schulman told the Commission the installation occurred because the fencing contractor mistakenly scheduled the job and did not pull the permit; he immediately contacted staff and the contractor applied for the permit the same day. He said the choice of material was influenced by nearby fences, including a white vinyl fence he believed to be outside the historic district and additional fencing visible in neighborhood photographs.

Commissioners heard argument both for and against making a case‑by‑case exception. Some commissioners noted limited visibility from Milford Mill Road and suggested a narrowly tailored exception where visibility is minimal; others said approving vinyl in the middle of the district would set an undesirable precedent and preferred to require a wood fence that complies with guidelines. One commissioner suggested a compromise — replacing visible sections (for example the piece facing the connecting street or driveway) with wood and allowing vinyl in the least visible stretches — and asked the owner to consult staff on a mixed‑material option.

A motion to accept the existing vinyl fence failed on roll call. Commissioners then asked the owner to work with staff and resubmit a new application describing either a fully wood fence or a design that replaces the most visible portions with wood while providing the owner the required 6‑foot privacy height where appropriate. The Commission did not issue a Certificate of Appropriateness or a notice to proceed; staff advised the owner that updated plans should be submitted for consideration at a future meeting.