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Board approves corner‑yard fence variance for 1101 West Garfield with condition to move projecting portion by May 12
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Summary
The Board approved a developmental variance for a 6‑foot privacy fence at 1101 West Garfield, contingent on moving the projecting portion from the front corner to the rear corner of the house by May 12 and completing work within six months.
The Elkhart City Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a developmental variance for a 6‑foot solid privacy fence at 1101 West Garfield on Nov. 13, 2025, but required the petitioner to move the projecting portion of the fence to the rear corner of the house to conform with the city’s forthcoming UDO standards.
Leslie Santos, the homeowner, told the board she installed the fence for child safety and said the family had not intended to violate placement standards. Planning staff reviewed the permit history and said a fence permit had been issued on June 20, 2023 but the installed fence extended past the wall of the house and was cited as a zoning violation Aug. 11, 2025.
Staff recommended approval of a developmental variance only if the projecting portion was relocated to the rear corner of the house and the work completed within six months. At the meeting staff reiterated the findings of fact supporting the variance, including that the property is a corner lot and that the structure will not injure adjacent property values if modified to mirror forthcoming UDO language.
The board voted to approve the petition and adopted staff conditions; the chair specified a final compliance date of May 12 for moving the projecting portion and thanked the petitioner. The board recorded that 33 letters were mailed and no responses returned.
Next steps: staff will monitor compliance with the condition to move the projecting portion of the fence and enforce the six‑month timeline; failure to comply could render the variance invalid and subject to enforcement action.
