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Sunbury hearing draws resident concerns over plan to replace 8-foot fence at Meadows at Sunbury
Summary
At a Dec. 3 council meeting, the city held a public hearing on a proposal to remove an 8-foot fence along the southern property line of The Meadows at Sunbury Apartments and replace it with enhanced landscaping; residents raised lighting and screening concerns and staff said approval would be contingent on resident meetings and as-built plans.
Sunbury City Council on Dec. 3 held a public hearing on an amendment to The Meadows at Sunbury Apartments development plan that would remove an existing 8-foot fence along the development’s southern property line and replace it with enhanced landscaping and plantings.
City legal counsel Vic Whitney explained hearing procedures and the council accepted three exhibits into the record: the hearing notice, the current approved site plan and the proposed amended plan. An applicant representative told the council that the developer has begun test plantings near the first two or three houses to demonstrate screening and said the developer has purchased materials and committed to replacing any trees or shrubs that die.
Planning staff told the council the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the amendment contingent on the developer meeting with nearby residents and providing as‑built plans. Daryl (city staff) said city staff will document current plantings and provide photos to council members before the next meeting so members can assess progress.
Residents who spoke during the sworn public-comment period said the new plantings are promising but not yet dense enough in some areas to block driveway lights and vehicle headlights. Larry B., a resident at 2432 Tomlin Drive, said additional trees and shrubs requested by neighbors were added but that a lower section of planting remains sparse and the developer agreed to address that when weather permits. Linda Bennett, who lives on the west end near the parking area, asked for more fill‑in plantings where gaps remain and said she had not yet been contacted directly by the developer about the plan for her side of the property.
Council closed the hearing by motion (moved by Mister Martin and seconded by Mister Capel) and recorded a roll-call vote with six 'yes' votes to end public testimony. The council did not adopt a final ordinance on the amendment that night; an ordinance amending the southern boundary landscape screening plan (Ordinance 2025.38) was listed for first reading later in the meeting.
Next steps: council members and staff said they expect continued coordination between the developer and residents, with staff supplying images of plantings before the next meeting and the matter returning for ordinance readings and formal action at future meetings.
