Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fence Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Applicant who identified herself as Kathleen Tellez seeks front-yard fence; board advises survey and limits
Summary
An applicant who spelled her name as 'Kathleen t e l l e, z' requested a fence extending to the front of her house to contain two small dogs. The Hobart City Redevelopment Authority cited the city fence ordinance (adopted 1983), raised precedent concerns, and advised the applicant to obtain a certified survey and work with the building department; no variance was granted at the meeting.
An applicant who identified herself by spelling her last name as "t e l l e, z" (presented as Kathleen Tellez) asked the Hobart City Redevelopment Authority on March 5 for permission to install a fence extending from the front of her house around to the back to give two small dogs usable outdoor space.
"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," the applicant said, describing the lot layout and showing images of the proposed alignment. She said an existing neighbor fence runs to the sidewalk on one side and that she lacks convenient access from the garage to a side-yard area.
The board discussed alternatives and legal constraints. The Chair explained that the city fence ordinance, adopted in 1983, generally prevents fences from extending into front-yard areas and that existing front-yard fences in some neighborhoods are likely grandfathered because they predate the ordinance. The Chair cautioned that allowing a front-yard fence could set a precedent and said exceptions are limited to unusual lot configurations tied to the land, not to economic hardship.
Board members suggested practical alternatives, including aligning the fence to the front corner of the house (but not past the curb/property line) or placing the fence along a side-yard area if the applicant can provide a man-door or other access; the applicant said those fixes could be costly. The Clerk directed the applicant to obtain a certified property survey and to meet with the building department to confirm property lines and allowable fence placement.
The board did not grant a front-yard variance at the meeting. Instead, members advised the applicant to submit a certified survey and work with the building department to identify fence locations that comply with the ordinance and with any grandfathering limits.
