Commission denies fence-height variance request for corner lot at 701 Avenue I

The Boulder City Planning Commission on June 17 denied variance V-25-691, which would have allowed a 6-foot masonry fence in the required front yard at 701 Avenue I, a corner lot in an R1-7 zone. City code limits fences in the required front yard to 4 feet.

Planning Manager Nakisha Alliance presented the application on behalf of staff, explaining the applicant, Larry Archuleta Jr., sought two additional feet in fence height to address privacy and security concerns on the corner lot. Alliance said the applicant argued the lot’s corner orientation and street alignment constrained usable private yard area.

Staff reviewed the five variance criteria and noted that corner-lot configurations similar to this one exist throughout the R1-7 zone, and that the fence-height standard has been in place since March 23, 1988. Public Works required that any wall conform to the Regional Transportation Commission standard drawing 201.2 for site visibility at intersections, Alliance said. Staff also reported three written public comments in opposition raising visibility concerns at the intersection of New Mexico Street and Avenue I.

Based on staff analysis that the circumstances were not sufficiently unique or site-specific to justify a variance, a commissioner moved to deny the request. The motion was seconded and commissioners voted in favor; the motion carried, and the variance was denied.

The commission noted the applicant may pursue a conforming fence or seek code changes through the city’s zoning process; staff recommended the denial be based on the findings in the staff report. No public speakers testified during the hearing.