February 2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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AMENDED STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A -- - - - - - _ CERTIFIATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: 2002-0114 Property Location: Property Owner: 215 Hammond Place Heidi Thacker Landmark or District Designation: Rating: C-11, C-9 Local Historic District — River Bend On Friday, February 18, the Historic Preservation Commission held a special meeting to consider the Application, as the homeowner felt some urgency regarding the installation of a fence to contain her two dogs. In preparing the first Staff Report, HPC staff found from the Building Department that they do have a concern about maintenance, which can be difficult when two solid wood fences are installed touching or very near one another. This might be alleviated by (a) sharing one fence between two neighbors, or (b) enclosing a smaller area, and installing the fence post and horizontal supports on the inside of the yard, and having the smooth side facing outward. A combination of these remedies could be used. The Commission President, chairing the special meeting, asked the homeowner which of these proposed solutions she favored. Ms. Thacker said that she had spoken to at least one set of adjacent neighbors, and that her and their preferred solution would be for her to take down their existing fence between their properties, and install her own. This was also her preference regarding the fence on the other side of her property, and she felt sanguine about the agreement of that owner, too. Therefore, the Commissioners present at that special meeting directed HPC staff to issue a permit allowing the installation of new fencing, as applied for, across the back of the back yard, the front of the back yard, and CONDITIONAL UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE NEIGHBORS, removal of their existing fences between their yards and Ms. Thacker's yard, and installation of her new fencing there. Several days later, we heard that both sets of neighbors had refused their consent to the removal of their fences. We therefore issued a permit for Ms. Thacker to install her new fencing in those areas that did not require removal of the neighbors' fences. This should at least address the concerns she expressed as urgent regarding the safety of her dogs. It still, apparently, leave her with a problem of multiple fencing styles in her back yard, and for that reason, she elects to come before, the Commission with a revised application. This time, she seeks approval for either installing the new fence directly along the neighbors' existing fences, or else a little way in from them.