Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission approves Sea Villas fence variance after residents cite repeated trespassing
Summary
The Venice Planning Commission unanimously approved a variance allowing Sea Villas Condos to reinstall a fence seaward of the Gulf Beach setback line, following staff analysis and testimony from residents who reported dozens of trespassing incidents and safety concerns.
The Venice Planning Commission on March 21 unanimously recommended approval of variance petition 26061205, allowing Sea Villas Condominiums to reinstall a fence along the pool and beachside property line.
Nicole Tremblay, senior planner for the city of Venice, told commissioners the application seeks an exception to the City of Venice Land Development Code that "prohibits any construction seaward of the Gulf Beach setback line," and that staff had prepared corrected measurements and a staff report addressing the seven variance criteria. The parcel is about 1.43 acres with a future land use of high‑density residential and RMF‑4 zoning, Tremblay said.
The agent, Luke Bierman of Freedom Fence, presented updated surveys and photos and said the proposed fence would generally be placed inside property lines and, in some locations, on the beach‑side face of an existing concrete wall. "It's actually gonna be on the beach side of that concrete wall," Bierman said, and he supplied cut‑sheet specifications showing six‑foot and four‑foot sections where elevation changes occur.
Two residents of Sea Villas, which the public comment described as a 20‑unit, 55+ condominium community, told commissioners they back the fence for safety and security. "From March 1 to March 17, we had 74 trespassers," Kim Herring said, recounting incidents where trespassers used restrooms, trespassed through pool areas and made threats to older residents. Steven Herring, a full‑time resident, said trespassing occurs "one to three times a week" and that on higher‑surf days numbers can reach "20 to 50." Both residents said the condominium board voted unanimously to pursue the modification.
After brief commissioner discussion about precedent and the long‑standing built condition seaward of the setback line, a commissioner moved that the commission find the petition met the applicable variance criteria "based on review of the application materials, the staff report and testimony provided during the public hearing." The motion passed unanimously.
