City Council debates landscaping as fences

By JENNIFER NOBLIT

ThisWeek Community News Wednesday October 31, 2012 10:45 AM

Landscaping used as fencing for homes elicited a long debate by Dublin City Council members last week.

The first reading of modifications to the fence code that would remove all references to hedges as fences produced varying opinions during an Oct. 22 meeting.

The changes were prompted by council members who asked the city staff to look into the matter after dealing with a complaint from a resident.

The "least disruptive approach" would be to remove references to hedges from fence code, a staff report to council stated. The use of hedges would still be included in landscaping code.

"The proposed amendment addresses comments from city council and its community development committee, noting that hedges are used in many parts of the city as fences as well as screening and that it should be an acceptable feature of the community," the report said.

Planning and zoning commission members sent the changes to council and recommend disapproval because the current code has "been effective in preserving the original intent of keeping open views along shared property lines," the report said.

Both Cathy Boring and Richard Gerber were worried the changes didn't address the entire problem, but John Reiner said residents have a right to privacy in their backyards.

"I think everyone has the right to screen their own yard from their neighbors," Vice Mayor Amy Salay said, noting that screening can add value to a home. "This is happening in our community despite the fence code."

Here is the original post:
City Council debates landscaping as fences