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Kathleen Tellez seeks front‑yard fence; Hobart board points to ordinance, advises survey
Summary
An applicant identified as Kathleen Tellez asked the Hobart City Redevelopment Authority for permission to extend fencing to the front of her house to enclose a yard for two small dogs. Board members cited a 1983 ordinance limiting front‑yard fences, discussed alternatives and asked her to obtain a property survey and consult the building department; no variance was granted.
Kathleen Tellez told the Hobart City Redevelopment Authority on March 5 that she wants to install a fence from the front of her property all the way to the back to give her two small dogs space to run. The board reviewed aerial imagery and a plan the applicant described as AI-generated and discussed ordinance limits and possible alternatives.
The Authority’s chair said the city’s fence ordinance — adopted, the board said, around 1983 — generally prohibits fences that come up to the curb line and that existing front‑yard fences are likely grandfathered. "We can't be careful, because if we allow you to do that, then we're setting precedent," the chair said, urging consistency with past decisions.
Tellez said the property currently has no workable side access to the backyard because the garage is attached and the driveway blocks passage: "What I'm trying to do is put a fence and a fence around the front of the property as well as all the way to the back. I have two little dogs and the lot is consumed by house mostly all the way back to the alley." She said she has pictures of the proposed layout and that replacing or altering garage access would be costly because she is on fixed income.
Board members walked through alternatives that would not extend fencing to the curb line. Several members suggested she could position fencing to the front corner of the house and run it back to the property line, use the existing side yard area, or consider adding a man door in the garage to access a side enclosure. The chair and other members repeatedly recommended obtaining an official property survey so staff and the building department can confirm exactly where the property line lies and what fence placement would comply with the code. "You need to have a survey done, like, an actual survey to find out how much space you have there," one board member said.
Staff and board members also advised Tellez to coordinate with neighbors about the planned fence. The board acknowledged the applicant’s financial constraints but emphasized that hardship exceptions historically hinge on land and lot configuration rather than an applicant’s personal finances.
The meeting record shows the board did not take a formal vote to grant a variance at this session. Instead, the applicant was directed to obtain or provide an existing survey, consult the building department, and return with clarified plans if needed. The board closed the discussion by repeating the suggested steps and thanking the applicant.
Next steps: The applicant is expected to secure an official property survey and consult the building department; a future meeting or submittal would be required if she seeks a formal variance.
