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Residents and commissioners debate removal of white-vinyl fence along Sturgis Road; city will survey owners
Summary
Commission discussion clarified that the white vinyl fence along sections of Sturgis Road appears to be on private property (installed by the developer) rather than city or DOT property; the city will mail/has mailed a survey and offer to remove fence sections upon owner request, but ownership and future maintenance will remain with owners who choose to keep fence.
A lengthy exchange Oct. 3 focused on a neighborhood fence that runs along Sturgis Road and adjacent areas. Residents, Commissioners and staff discussed a mailed survey asking whether property owners want the white vinyl fence removed.
Speaker 6 said staff’s research indicated the installed fence often sits inside private lot lines and may have been installed by the original developer; the Department of Transportation informed staff the fence was not DOT-owned. The city attorney (Speaker 8) explained that where the fence lies on a landowner’s property the owner retains responsibility, and where an HOA previously maintained sections, that arrangement may have lapsed with changes to HOA status.
Commissioners and residents asked whether removal would be mandatory if a simple majority of surveyed neighbors wanted it removed; staff clarified the city’s intention is to offer removal as a service where owners opt in and to transfer responsibility to owners who opt to keep a fence. Speaker 6 said the city had not set a hard deadline and planned a two-step notice process (initial survey followed by a reminder) to maximize homeowner input.
One resident asked whether removed fence materials could be salvaged for neighbors; staff said the city intended to dispose of removed fencing as surplus if not claimed. The city did not adopt a binding policy at the meeting but agreed to continue outreach and to proceed with removals where property owners consent.
