Title
Install 6 to 8 foot tall fencing on the side and rear yard of a single-family dwelling (B)
Petition HP-21-62. Bradd & India Weinberg, owners. Certificate of Appropriateness to install fencing made of a non-traditional material around the sides and rear of an existing single-family dwelling. Located at 538 NE 7th Avenue. This building is a contributing structure to the Northeast Residential Historic District.
Project Description
The applicant is proposing to place a fence along the side and rear portions of the property. The fence height will vary from 6 feet to 8 feet although the majority of the fence proposed is 8 feet. The intended material to use for the fence is Trex, a composite fence made from a proprietary blend of 95% recycled wood fiber and plastic. The applicants are proposing to install a 5 foot wide section of fencing that would be 6 feet tall from the western front wall of the house to the western property line, including a 4 foot tall single gate. A section of fencing that is 6 feet tall will extend north along the western property line for a distance of 21 feet. At this point the height of the fence goes up to 8 feet for a distance of 46 feet to the northwest corner of the property; then the 8 foot fence runs 65 feet along the north or rear property line to the northeast corner of the property; then the 8 foot fence section runs 67 feet south to a point adjacent to the front wall of the house where a 10 foot wide double gate is proposed within a 12 foot section of fencing that runs from the east property line to the front wall of the house. The front face of the house is setback over 30 feet from the south property line. The Trex fence would be Winchester Grey in color.
The proposed Trex fencing was recommended to the applicants by next door neighbors who complained about rotting wood fences and the resulting diminished aesthetic value. The applicants feel that the style chosen is classic with a clean, classy wood aesthetic in a non-rotting material that compliments the historic feel of the Duckpond. The proposed height of the fence is 6 feet on the west side of the house adjacent to the neighboring house, and then rises to 8 feet around the pool area in the back yard. The applicants indicate they are in close proximity to each neighbor and privacy is a real issue. Portions of the existing fence in the back yard are 8 feet in height. The new fence would only be on the sides and in the rear replacing the existing fence so it would not be readily visible from the street except for a proposed simple classic gate.
According to the City of Gainesville’s Historic Preservation Rehabilitation and Design Guidelines, fences in backyards shall be no more than six feet in height and constructed of wood or masonry. The proposed Trex fence will be 6 to 8 feet in height to replace the existing rear yard fence which varies in height from 6 feet to 8 feet. As the proposed height of the fence at some points is 8 feet, staff cannot approve the proposal and the Historic Preservation Board will review and determine if the proposal is in compliance with the guidelines. Staff finds that the proposed fencing is of similar height to the existing fence and is located in the rear of the structure and not readily visible from the right-of-way.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the application with the board to deliberate on the Trex material for the proposed fencing to determine if it is appropriate for the historic district, as well as deliberate on the proposed 8 foot height for sections of the fence.