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Neighbors and staff spar over proposed 8‑foot fence on sloping corner lot; commission continues case
Summary
The commission continued Deborah Clark’s fence replacement application after neighbors and several commissioners questioned approval of an 8‑foot fence along a sloping street frontage and staff reiterated guidelines favoring a 6‑foot height in visible locations.
The Historic Preservation Commission on Jan. 6 continued a request to replace a fence at 300 Northwest 18th Street after neighbors, staff and commissioners disputed whether an 8‑foot fence is appropriate along a sidewalk and corner lot.
Katie of the Office of Historic Preservation told the commission staff recommended approval only with a reduced height (no more than 6 feet) because guidelines discourage tall fences visible from the street. Applicant representative Mike Lee and the homeowner’s team said the house sits on a grade that makes a 6‑foot fence look short from the driveway side and argued an 8‑foot cedar fence with alternating iron inserts preserves security and matches some nearby properties. Mike Lee said the proposed fence would read as 6 feet where the iron gate remains and becomes effectively 8 feet where the grade drops.
Resident Marva Eller opposed the 8‑foot height for street frontages, saying taller fences create a fortress‑like environment and reduce neighborliness. "If you're a pedestrian walking by, you've got this 10, 11 foot thing over your head and it's not very neighborly," she said during public comment.
Commissioners acknowledged the slope and privacy concerns but emphasized consistency with the guidelines for sidewalk frontages. Several commissioners suggested alternatives — a retaining wall plus fence, tapered heights, or lattice/top treatments — and encouraged the applicant to submit multiple options. Staff asked for clearer drawings, height comparisons to neighboring fences, and materials details.
The commission voted to continue the application to the Feb. 4 meeting to allow the applicant to work with staff on alternative designs and provide additional drawings and measurements; staff set a Jan. 13 submission deadline for any new materials for the Feb. docket.
The record shows the commission treated this as a design and streetscape issue rather than a safety emergency. The continuation leaves open options that could include an administratively approvable 6‑foot solution or a variance approach with documented unique circumstances.
