Allen planning commission recommends approval of private yard fencing at Gateway Forest Apartments

The City of Allen Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 recommended approval of an amendment to Planned Development (PD) 141 that would allow private yard fencing for certain ground-floor units at Gateway Forest Apartments.

City staff presenter Ms. Yockey described the proposal and said staff recommends approval. "The reason we're here tonight is a request to amend the development regulations for PD 141 with regards to private yard fencing," she said, noting the subject site is west of Exchange Parkway and north of Ridgeview Drive. She told commissioners that PD 141 currently prohibits fences or walls in the front elevation and that the requested revision would permit ornamental metal fencing for units that face South Side Boulevard, extending up to 10 feet from the front façade and not exceeding 4 feet in height, with a concrete sidewalk leading from each gate.

A commissioner asked how many units would be affected and whether existing fences would remain; Ms. Yockey replied the site has seven such units and confirmed the fences already in place would be allowed to remain. A commissioner who moved the recommendation said the fencing "helps to delineate the property and it gives the resident a little bit of not protection so much, but at least a demarcation of this is mine versus somebody walking down it." The motion to recommend approval was made by Commissioner Stoker and seconded by Commissioner Walker, and the chair announced the motion carried unanimously.

Staff noted the change is consistent with similar regulations in PD 142 and with city council policy for urban residential settings. The commission closed the public hearing after no members of the public came forward. The chair said the item will proceed to the City Council on March 25 for final consideration.

The commission also approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting and adjourned with no further business.