Bexley OKs special permit for 6-foot fence on corner lot at 874 Chelsea

The Bexley Board of Zoning and Planning on Oct. 23 approved a special permit to allow a 6-foot fence along the street side of the corner lot at 874 Chelsea.

Planning staff explained that the code requires a special permit for fences of that height on a corner-lot street side and that the proposed fence will be set back from the right-of-way and connect the house to the garage. "This is our classic corner lot," staff said, and noted the installation will be accompanied by a landscaping plan to break up the visual effect of the fence.

Applicant Allison O'Neil told the board she and her family recently moved into the house and want to create a safer, enclosed yard for their young child and to limit foot traffic through the property. "We're obviously have a child now and would love to fence it in...we would like to do a 6 foot fence and plant some bushes around it and live happily ever after," O'Neil said.

Board members discussed a guideline in the code stating that "fences exceeding 48 inches in height should include transparency in the upper 12 to 18 inches," and confirmed that the landscaping plan must be approved by the zoning officer. Staff clarified the code language uses "should" rather than "shall," making transparency a strong guideline rather than a mandatory requirement.

After staff read findings and recommended approval, the board voted to grant the special permit. The decision includes the requirement that a landscaping plan be submitted and approved by the zoning officer as provided in the code.