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Show City Council Holds a Public Hearing, Regular Business The city council met in regular session last Tuesday evening but the meeting began earlier than regular time to provide time for a public hearing on two proposed additions to the zoning ordinance. The first proposed ordinance which was reviewed dealt with height of fences, walls and hedges. The ordinance would provide that fences in the front yard be restricted to three feet in height unless it is non-view obscuring which then could be four feet in height. The maximum height of a fence in the rear yard would be set at six feet. The ordinance provided that any fence exceeding six feet would have to be reviewed by the Board of Adjustments and would require a building permit. There were five citizens present at the public hearing and those present were opposed to the adoption of the proposed ordinance. It was noted by the mayor that the provision for the board of adjustment to review fences exceeding six feet and also when the structure creates unusual problems provides for a mediation between adjoining ad-joining property owners. Those present felt that this was not needed as pioperty owners can mediate these problems through their own attorneys and through the courts. Councilman Bezzant expressed concern that the fence heights can be regulated by individuals on their own and that the city should not get in the business of regulating fences. It was noted by councilman Atwood that one of the needs for the ordinance is to provide that the view is not obscured when someone backs out of their driveway and the neighbor or the person himself him-self has contructed a tall fence fen-ce and the driver cannot see down the road until he has pulled out into the road. Councilman Bezzant indicated that he felt that there is not enoueh doccumented proof that accidents have occurred because of this situation and suggested that until this can be documented that there is not a need for this provision. After further discussion, Mayor Haynie tabled further discussion on the proposed ordinance until some agreement could be arrived at among the council members. Mayor Haynie read the other proposed ordinance which would require that on all new homes that sidewalk, curb and gutter would be required to be installed. This ordinance was rweviewed and those present thought this was a good ordinance. The problem of having to meet existing driveways when these improvements are installed in-stalled years after the home has been completed was (Continued on Page 7) |