Troy board denies request for six‑foot privacy fence on corner lot at 6898 Vernmore

The Troy City Building Code Board of Appeals denied a request for a six‑foot privacy fence at 6898 Vernmore on Nov. 5, 2025, after neighbors urged the board to preserve the subdivision's open, park‑like character and staff outlined by‑right alternatives.

The board heard from Dominic, a city planning staff member, who described the application as a fence‑height variance for a corner lot in the R‑1B district. "According to the City of Troy's zoning ordinance," Dominic said, the district requires a 40‑foot front yard setback along both frontages and "the zoning ordinance limits fence height in the front yard to 30 inches." The applicant sought to install a six‑foot vinyl privacy fence that would run about 68 feet along Scone and return 39 feet to the house, placing roughly 98 feet of six‑foot fence in the Scone front yard.

Applicant Chuck Karch told the board he and his wife recently moved in and want "as much room on our property as possible" for two dogs, a planned pool and a play area for grandchildren. Karch said they chose alignment to avoid removing trees and planned gates for pedestrian access and lawn service.

Multiple neighbors told the board approving the variance would change the neighborhood's character. Longtime resident Steven Sadler said the proposed fence "is just gonna stand out like a sore thumb, and it's going to be blocking that openness," describing the Glenmore/High Oaks area as open and park‑like. Gianna Andre, another neighbor, raised safety concerns because the corner has a bus stop and heavy cut‑through traffic.

Board members and staff repeatedly noted there are by‑right options the applicant could pursue. Dominic confirmed a 48‑inch non‑obscuring fence is allowed in some front‑yard positions and that a four‑foot chain‑link fence placed at or near the property line would be permitted without variance. The board also discussed that similar six‑foot fences in the city exist but are typically set well back from the roadway.

A board member moved to deny the variance on grounds that the request would be contrary to the public interest, would adversely affect nearby properties and that no hardship or practical difficulty was demonstrated. The motion was seconded and, on roll call, the board voted unanimously to deny the variance; the chair concluded, "The motion failed, so there'll be no fence," meaning the requested six‑foot privacy fence will not be allowed as proposed.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of Oct. 1, 2025 (as revised): approved by roll call (all present voted yes). - Motion to deny variance request for 6898 Vernmore (deny six‑foot fence): motion carried on roll call (all present voted yes); variance denied. - Motion to accept the 2026 meeting schedule with August 5 moved to August 12: approved by roll call.

What happens next

Staff will enter written emails submitted by neighbors into the meeting record and the applicant may pursue by‑right fence options (for example, a four‑foot non‑obscuring fence at the lot line or a 48‑inch non‑obscuring fence at the setback) or refile a revised application consistent with zoning rules. The board moved on to communications and adopted next year's schedule before adjourning.