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Sunbury BZA approves variance for privacy fence at 165 Letts Avenue
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Summary
The Sunbury Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to allow a privacy fence at 165 Letts Avenue, requiring the fence be installed 2 feet off the property line to preserve space for any future sidewalk; the motion also accounted for an on-site stump.
The Sunbury Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 on April 20 to grant a variance allowing a privacy fence at 165 Letts Avenue, with the condition that the fence be installed no closer than 2 feet from the property line along Hill Road to accommodate any future sidewalk.
Staff presented the application and supporting exhibits, describing a fence that would taper from roughly 4 feet near the intersection to 6 feet in the rear yard. The staff report noted the property is a corner lot at Hill and Letts Avenue and that, under current code, only split-rail fences in that location may be approved administratively; the privacy fence therefore required board approval. "The applicant is requesting a privacy fence to be located in the side and rear yards of a corner lot house," the staff presenter stated during the hearing.
Board members and staff discussed sight-line safety and sidewalk planning. Staff said site visits showed the proposed fence would be about 35 feet from the nearest stop sign and did not appear to create sight-line issues. Staff also explained typical new sidewalk geometry: a 5-foot sidewalk plus a 3-foot tree lawn, about 8 feet total, and recommended setting the fence back 2 feet from the property line given the current roughly 7-foot distance between the street edge and property line. "I would recommend going 2 more or putting the fence 2 feet off of the property line to allow in case the sidewalk does get installed," staff said.
The applicant spoke in favor of the variance, saying the fence was needed "for the privacy and safety of our current family" because of the busy intersection. The board also agreed the motion should allow staff to take into account a stump on the property when determining final placement.
Sean, the new city manager, introduced himself to the board and offered draft language for the motion: approve the application as presented with the fence along Hill Road installed 2 feet off the property line, with consideration given for the stump. Using that language, a board member moved to approve the variance and the motion was seconded; the board then voted 4-0 to approve.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the 2026 rules and regulations (motion passed unanimously), closed the public hearing on the 165 Letts Avenue variance (motion passed unanimously), approved the variance for 165 Letts Avenue (4-0), and approved minutes from Oct. 20 (unanimous).
The board also addressed routine business: two members were sworn in at the start of the meeting, staff said it will begin including the Duncan factors in future staff reports to aid variance reviews, and the board agreed to keep regular meetings at 5:30 p.m. The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for May 18.
The meeting adjourned after the final unanimous vote.
