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Commission requires 8‑ft screening fence for Gunderson Funeral Home cooler addition
Summary
The planning commission approved exterior modifications for Gunderson Funeral Home at 5203 Monona Drive (case 232026), including a cooler addition and a mandated 8‑foot privacy fence to fully screen the cooler; staff and the applicant will resolve an existing electrical easement and MG&E relocation before construction.
The Monona Planning Commission approved a zoning permit for exterior modifications at Gunderson Funeral Home, including a cooler addition, relocation and widening of the dumpster enclosure and an 8‑foot composite privacy fence to screen the cooler, at 5203 Monona Drive (case 232026).
Devin Engle, a licensed architect and design project manager at Iconica representing Gunderson, described a cooler addition roughly 10 by 50 feet (approximately 500 sq ft) and an 8‑foot Trex composite privacy fence to screen the cooler, noting the cooler itself would be about 7½–8 feet tall and would be covered with a white TPO roof membrane. Engle said the client arranged for the applicant to engage MG&E to relocate an existing 20‑foot electrical easement on the site at the applicant’s expense so construction can proceed.
Staff recommended approval with conditions and pointed out that fences exceeding six feet typically require special consideration; the commission adopted a motion that requires an 8‑foot fence to fully screen the cooler and referenced the plans presented that evening. Commissioners asked for a finding of fact clarifying that the fence is required to screen mechanical equipment and to mitigate glare from the white cooler roof; staff recommended referencing the plans and including a screening finding in the condition language.
Questions from commissioners focused on the easement and MG&E relocation, the gap between the fence and cooler (where the applicant proposed landscaping stones to accept sheet drainage), and the long‑term maintenance and drainage approach. The applicant said the plan calls for landscaping stone and pervious area to receive the cooler’s sheet drainage and that the retaining wall and on‑site grades would leave adjacent grades unchanged. The motion to approve was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.
The commission’s approval is conditioned on final plan reference and the applicant obtaining any required utility relocations; staff will check the final plans and suggested findings when preparing the permit documents.
