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Planning commission recommends limited variance for fence orientation at 6545 New Peachtree Road
Summary
Doraville planning staff recommended and the commission voted to recommend a conditional variance allowing the rear portion of a newly constructed wooden fence at 6545 New Peachtree Road to remain as built while requiring side-yard sections to be brought into code compliance; the item will go to City Council in two weeks.
City staff told the Doraville Planning Commission that a property owner at 6545 New Peachtree Road has requested relief from section 23-703(G), which requires the finished side of a wooden fence to face neighboring properties. The wooden privacy fence has already been constructed without a permit, and staff recommended conditional approval limited to the portion along the rear property line.
The city staff presenter said the record shows two fences on the property: an applicant-owned chain-link fence and a newly constructed 6- to 8-foot wooden fence. Staff said the rear of the lot has a roughly 15-foot grade change that creates a practical hardship at the rear, but staff did not find comparable hardship along the side property lines and recommended side-yard fencing be brought into compliance.
The property owner, who spoke at the meeting (identified in the record only as the applicant), told commissioners that reversing the wooden fence’s finish side would be difficult at the rear because of the steep drop and that limited working room at the sides complicated repairs. The applicant said the chain-link fence is on their property and that they had asked nearby neighbors about the taller wooden fence before installing it. The applicant also cited dust from a neighboring landscaping business and safety concerns about people staying overnight nearby as reasons for installing the heavier wood fence.
Commissioners pressed whether removing the existing chain-link fence would allow contractors to reorient the wood fence; the applicant said the chain-link posts appear set in concrete and that they did not install the chain-link fence themselves. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the public-comment period.
Commissioner Billy moved to approve the variance “with the conditions” recommended by staff (approval limited to the rear portion; side-yard portions must be brought into compliance). Commissioner Devin seconded; the motion passed on a roll call with affirmative votes from Billy, Devin, Evette, Michael and Chris. Staff said the recommendation will be forwarded to Doraville City Council for final action in two weeks.
The commission’s action recommends a narrowly tailored remedy: preserve the rear portion of the fence where staff documented a topographic hardship while requiring code compliance along the side property lines. The council hearing is scheduled in two weeks, at which time the council will consider the commission’s recommendation.
