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Johnstown Zoning Board OKs six-foot fence, one-foot setback variance for 19 McMartin Street
Summary
The Johnstown Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-0 on May 21, 2026, to grant Amber Wadsworth a variance to install a six-foot fence and to place it one foot closer to the street than normally allowed; final setbacks must be verified by Code Enforcement before a permit is issued.
On May 21, 2026, the Johnstown Zoning Board of Appeals approved a request from Amber Wadsworth to replace an existing fence at 19 McMartin Street with a six-foot fence and to allow the fence to extend one foot further into the required setback zone. The motion, made by Board Member Robert Salamack and seconded by Board Member Robert Gallt, passed 3-0 with Board Member Rocco Semprivio absent.
Wadsworth told the board the existing fence was in poor condition and that she had completed extensive interior and exterior renovations and property cleanup since purchasing the home. She said the new fence would be positioned about 27 feet from the center of the roadway but requested approval for placement at 26 feet to allow for a wider gate opening. Code Enforcement Office staff advised that required setbacks must be determined and approved by the Code Enforcement Office prior to issuance of a permit and that measurements could be verified if necessary.
Larry O’Regan, the city’s Fire Chief and Code Enforcement Officer, explained the application had already received preliminary approval from the Planning Board but required Zoning Board action because the proposal asked for both height and setback relief. Board members reviewed photographs and diagrams provided by the applicant and discussed the fence’s relation to the house, roadway, and surrounding properties; they noted the property sits near a dead-end area with few neighboring properties and concluded the proposed placement would not create traffic visibility or line-of-sight concerns.
The board’s approval incorporated both the six-foot height variance and the setback relief for the additional foot into the required setback area. The applicant was advised to pay the application fee and follow staff instructions on final measurement verification before a permit is issued. The meeting record states the variance “shall incorporate both height and setback relief as discussed.”
The Zoning Board took the action as part of regular agenda business and adjourned at 3:58 p.m.
