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Commission discusses spike in corner‑lot fence variances and opts to monitor trend
Summary
Staff reported eight variance requests in 2025 for privacy or chain-link fences on corner lots — more than in recent years — and presented options to retain vision- and aesthetics-based restrictions or allow limited rear-yard fencing with conditions; commissioners agreed to monitor the issue and revisit if the number of petitions increases.
Planning staff brought forward a problem-of-practice for the commission: an unusual uptick in variance requests for corner-lot privacy or chain-link fences. Staff explained that under the current ordinance privacy and chain-link fences are treated as rear-yard fences and are therefore prohibited in a required front yard because of vision-safety and neighborhood-aesthetics concerns.
Staff said there have been eight variance petitions so far in 2025 (compared with fewer in prior years), and staff presented examples where the Board of Zoning Appeals granted variances with conditions to balance privacy and sight-line safety. Staff outlined two paths: keep the ordinance as written to preserve sight lines, or amend the ordinance to allow rear-yard-style fences on corner lots under limited conditions (for example, requiring that the fence align with the house plane so it would not create blind spots). Commissioners generally favored waiting to see whether the 2025 uptick is a sustained trend and agreed to revisit the issue in the spring fence-building season or sooner if additional petitions arise.
