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Rowlett council approves corner-lot fence warrant over safety objections in 4–3 vote
Summary
The council approved a major-warrant request to raise a corner-lot side fence from 4 to 6 feet and change material from wrought iron to wood at 8613 Royal Star Road; neighbors urged denial citing sight-line and safety risks; the motion passed 4–3.
Rowlett’s council voted 4–3 on Dec. 16 to approve two major warrants for a corner lot in the Merritt Village form-based neighborhood: an increase in side-yard fence height from 4 feet to 6 feet and a material change from wrought-iron picket to solid wood.
Applicant Matthew Ensign told the council the request was driven by "security, privacy, and precedent," said he had HOA/architectural approval and cited a prior, similar approval at 3108 Bob Lane. "Security, privacy, and precedent," Ensign said in his presentation.
Neighbors and safety-minded residents countered that the 4-foot iron standard was intentionally designed to protect sight lines in narrow form-based subdivisions. Allison Felderhoff told council: "The existing requirement for 4 foot rod iron fencing on corner lots... was not created for aesthetics. It is a public safety measure." Planning staff noted the PNC recommended approval (7–0) and described notices and visibility checks; the applicant showed a 10x10 visibility triangle on his plans to mitigate sight-line concerns.
Council debate split on property rights and neighborhood character versus safety. The mayor and two council members voted against the motion; it carried 4–3. The council did not change the form-based code but granted the individual major-warrant request for this address. The applicant said he will proceed with the permitted construction, subject to the visibility-triangle condition presented at the hearing.
