Homewood City committee delays decision on homeowner27s request to place fence on city strip at 12 Pomona Avenue

The Homewood City Public Works Committee reviewed a request on July 1 from a homeowner to install a 7-foot wood privacy fence that would extend onto a narrow sliver of city-owned land next to the sidewalk at 12 Pomona Avenue. Committee members agreed to carry the item forward to full council after staff provides a precise legal description, the extent of city land affected and an appraisal or cost estimate.

The homeowner described the fence as a painted wood privacy fence to match the house, to be tied into the back corner of the house and to align with an existing fence line. A staff member told the committee the parcel in question is city-owned (Lot 12) and that the homeowner plans to have a survey done to show the exact area to be impacted.

Committee members emphasized the request is for permission to work in the right-of-way, not a request to vacate the city property or a zoning variance. One member said the city typically requires a legal description of the portion being used and recording that description so there is a clear public record of city ownership. The committee also raised indemnification as a standard condition for allowing private work on city land.

Members discussed two possible paths: (1) grant permission to work in the right-of-way coupled with a recorded legal description and indemnification, which would allow the fence to be installed while the city retains ownership; or (2) pursue a formal vacation/sale of just the sliver of land, which would require a separate public-notice process and an appraisal based on assessor value and square footage. Staff said the city has completed similar transactions recently and that the assessor-based appraisal would determine the purchase price if the homeowner chose that option.

A committee member moved that the request be sent to full council with staff instructions to provide an exact map/legal description and an accounting of how much of the city parcel would be affected and an estimate of value or cost. The committee agreed to leave the item in committee so the homeowner can obtain a survey; the item will go to council once the requested documentation is ready.

Next steps: staff will obtain or accept a homeowner-provided survey and legal description, prepare indemnification language and an appraisal/valuation estimate if the homeowner pursues a vacation. The committee carried the item over without objection and closed the discussion.