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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report HO 10-28-24 13 of 23 CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARING OFFICER DEPARTMENT REPORT MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 (V) Golden Fence, Height Variance. The applicant seeks the following variance approval for a privacy fence on a corner lot: 13. Docket No. PZ-2024-00176 V UDO Section 5.09(B) Maximum 42-inch fence allowed in front yard with at least 25% visibility; 7-ft privacy fence requested. The 0.85-acre site is located at 5700 E. 116th Street (not located in any subdivision). It is zoned S1/Residence. Filed by Shenay Golden, owner. General Info: • The site is a Corner Lot with two street frontages (hence, two front yards) – 116th St. and Hazel Dell Pkwy. • The Petitioner seeks approval for a new privacy fence along the east side of a Corner Lot. • Variances are requested for fence height in the front yard, as well as the fence design being a privacy type. • There is an existing chain link fence along the northern half of the east property line, along Hazel Dell Pkwy, and it is set in a few feet from the east property line, so the trees and shrubs help screen it from view. • There is an existing wooden privacy fence along the south property line, along 116th Street. • The elevation along the east property line is around 751 feet above sea level, and the elevation of Hazel Dell Pkwy is around 748-750 feet in that area. The elevation of the house is around 754 feet. • The site is not located in any subdivision; an HOA (Homeowner’s Association) does not exist. • Surrounding this site are residential uses, as well as Founders Park. • Please see the Petitioner’s info packet for more detail on the variance request. Variance Requested: Front Fence Height - • The UDO allows a maximum 42-inch tall fence in the front yard, and 6 feet is now requested (or 72 inches). This is an increase in 30 inches. • The UDO also requires that a fence in the front yard has at least 25% visibility. The Petitioner requests a solid wooden/cedar privacy fence of shadowbox design with zero visibility through it. • If the fence were set in 40-feet from the east property line, then it could be up to 9-ft tall, but that would eat into the yard area which is only around 62 feet wide when measured from the west property line to the house. • The Petitioner proposes to plant hosta plants and five bushes/shrubs that will grow around 8-10 feet tall, along the outside of the new fence section. Remaining Review Comments: • All Planning/Zoning review comments have been addressed. Final Comments: • A 7-ft tall fence was originally proposed, but the Planning Dept. let the Petitioner know that it could potentially support a 6-ft tall fence height variance request. • The proposed fence segment will only be around 88 feet long. Findings of Fact: • Please refer to the Petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their BZA Info Packet. Recommendation: • The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends positive consideration of the variance request, and with adoption of the Findings of Facts submitted by the Petitioner.