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Plan commission backs UDO amendment to exempt sports‑field fences from 4‑foot limit
Summary
Commissioners voted to recommend a text amendment exempting fences around sports fields, courts and facilities in institutional and certain commercial districts from the UDO's 4‑foot maximum fence height, allowing facilities to install safety fencing without a zoning variance.
The DeKalb County Plan Commission on June 17 recommended a favorable county‑commission vote on a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that would exempt fences around sports fields, courts and similar sports facilities in institutional, commercial and airport commercial zoning districts from the standard 4‑foot height limit.
Staff explained the amendment is intended to allow athletic facilities to install safety netting and taller fencing without seeking a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals. "We're proposing that those fences around sports fields be exempt from the fence and wall height standards of our UDO," staff member Chris Gomer said. Commissioners emphasized the change does not require property owners to install fencing and that it does not force such facilities in other districts to put up fences.
Commissioners also asked whether the amendment could be misconstrued to apply to shooting ranges; staff clarified that the current amendment targets sports‑field fencing and does not change shooting‑range provisions. The commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners by roll call vote, with all voting members present voting yes.
At the same meeting staff also briefed the commission on broader state changes under a recent House Enrolled Act that will require additional county reporting on housing metrics and limit fee increases, and staff announced a July 15 data‑center Q&A presentation by Roberto Gallardo of Purdue University to help the commission prepare for upcoming data‑center ordinance work.
