Grand Ledge Zoning Board approves 6-foot privacy-fence variance at 11988 Stone Bluff Drive

The Grand Ledge Zoning Board of Appeals on July 17, 2025, voted unanimously to grant variances to City Code Chapter 46, Section 46-9(3)(a)(1) & (2), permitting a 6-foot-high solid wood privacy fence in the Old Saginaw Highway front yard of the corner property at 11988 Stone Bluff Drive.

Zoning Administrator Susan Stachowiak recommended approving the request, saying the proposed fence would align with an existing 6-foot privacy fence on the adjoining property to the east and would not affect visibility at the Saginaw Highway/Stone Bluff Drive intersection or any nearby driveways. Chair Tim McClung opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m.; no members of the public spoke and the hearing was closed at 7:03 p.m.

During deliberations the board cited the existing neighboring fence and the limited visibility impact as reasons denial would create an unnecessary hardship. Board Member Bob Doty moved to approve the variances, Board Member Ron Graber seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The motion approved allowing the fence to extend 24 feet into the Old Saginaw Highway front yard, to be set back 3 feet from the public sidewalk along Old Saginaw Highway and not placed closer to Stone Bluff Drive than the rear wall of the house; the board gave immediate effect to the approval on the record.

Attendance recorded at roll call shows Chair Tim McClung, Board Members Bob Doty, Ron Graber and Carol Weigel present; Ben Cwayna and Tom Nelson were recorded as absent. The vote was recorded as unanimous; the tally in this report is based on that roll-call attendance as recorded in the minutes.

The minutes include the formal finding that denial would set an unnecessary hardship on the applicant and would not set a negative precedent for future requests to vary front-yard fence-height restrictions. The Zoning Administrator and applicants will proceed with any required permitting under the approved variance.