Wildwood board approves fence variance for Bountiful Pointe homeowner

The City of Wildwood Board of Adjustment on July 16 approved a variance allowing a homeowner at 274 Bountiful Pointe Circle to install roughly 85 feet of fencing that would encroach into a protected natural resource area. The board voted unanimously, 4–0, to grant the variance with the conditions set out in the department's recommendation.

The petitioner, Tom Luft, told the board he and his wife have lived on the property for 21 years and described recurring confrontations between their dog and trail users. "We do have lots of people that walk by, lots of dogs ... and we just don't want anybody hurt," Luft said while explaining the request for a fence similar to others in the neighborhood.

City Director of Planning Joe Vunich said the department supports the request and outlined the findings in the staff recommendation report. "The department is supporting this particular request," Vunich said, noting the proposed extent of disturbance is limited and that the department considers the impact minimal. Staff recommended conditions aimed at protecting the resource protection area, including limiting the weight of any equipment used for the work and requiring evergreen plantings to provide year-round screening.

The record for the petition included municipal code references entered into evidence by staff (Chapter 400, Article 2; Chapter 415; and the City's zoning ordinance materials), and the department's report and findings of fact. Consistent with the notice read into the record, the board's approval is subject to the specific conditions in the recommendation report; staff also reminded the petitioner that an approved variance requires the petitioner to obtain necessary permits within six months or the variance will expire.

The board closed the public hearing, moved to approve the variance with the department's conditions and recorded a unanimous vote to grant the request. No members of the public testified in opposition during the hearing.