Council adopts Lost Bay Townhomes PUD landscaping amendment allowing perimeter fence and limited plantings

City staff presented an amendment to the Lost Bay Townhomes planned-unit development that would remove a required row of perimeter hedges where a barrier fence already exists and retain a small set of plantings at the southern entry, and council voted to adopt the change on first reading.

Griffin, the city planner presenting the item, told the council the request would allow the applicant to “just leave the fencing, there.” He said the fence already has a Board of Adjustment approval for height and that staff asked the applicant to plant four southern live oaks; the applicant agreed. Councilors asked whether the fence could be extended along the north–south property line and whether shrubs along Canal Road would remain; staff confirmed shrubs on Canal Road would remain and said the four live oaks on the south would be planted.

The council moved to suspend the rules for immediate consideration and adopted the ordinance amending Ordinance No. 172 for the Lost Bay Townhomes PUD by roll call, with all present members voting yes and one councilor recorded absent. The amendment will change the previously approved perimeter landscaping plan to reflect the fence-and-tree approach approved by the council.

The council’s action was procedural and limited to the landscaping amendment; no changes to building footprints or unit counts were described during the hearing. Staff said the site is largely built out and that the change affects perimeter planting requirements where the fence provides a visual buffer.