Planning commission recommends approval of fence ordinance amendment allowing replacement chain-link fences after road projects

The Johns Creek Planning Commission voted 5-0 on March 3 to recommend approval of zoning ordinance text amendment A-26-001, a council-initiated change to residential and community-standards provisions that addresses fences and permit requirements. Chair called for the vote after staff outlined the proposed changes and commissioners discussed limited amendments.

Ms. Argarwal, planning staff, said the amendment "amends sections of the zoning ordinance pertaining to fence regulations" and recommends allowing replacement of existing chain-link fencing when the fence was removed because of a city or state road project. The amendment updates Section 4.11 (fences and walls) and Section 12E (community standards) to add language allowing replacement chain-link fencing adjacent to the right-of-way in those limited circumstances and to codify a fence permit requirement in sensitive areas.

Under the amendment, a fence permit is required for a new or replacement fence located adjacent to a public right-of-way when it falls within a 75-foot stream buffer or within the 2,000-foot Chattahoochee River corridor. Ms. Argarwal also described clarified measurement language for gates and a provision that all replacement chain-link fencing be "black or hunter green vinyl coated." The commission recommended a small set of clarifying edits during the meeting and the motion to recommend approval carried unanimously.

The commission's recommendation now goes to the mayor and city council for final action. Staff said they will include the commission's suggested clarifications in the draft presented to council and will notify commissioners of the council schedule when available.