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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8319 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8319 Date: May 1, 2001 } To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1 of 3 xA SUBJECT: Allowable Fence Materials Ordinance Background At the March 27, 2001 Pre-Council Meeting, staff presented a draft ordinance which resulted from working through the Safety and Community Development Committee. The purpose of the ordinance was to address concerns of recently constructed fences using materials not designed or typically specified as fence materials. The draft ordinance contained the following items: 1. Fences must be constructed of materials intended to be used for fence. 2. Established consistent requirements for construction of fences. a. Consolidated all fence requirements in the zoning ordinance to one location in the ordinance. 4. Established construction requirements for all fences constructed adjacent to arterial streets or freeways. 5. Required wood fences along arterial streets or freeways to use metal posts. 6. Required finished side of all screening fences adjacent to a freeway or arterial to face the right-of- way. 7. Allowed fences to be built of other materials such as wrought iron, tubular steel or chain link where a screening fence was not required. 8. Proposed ordinance did not require fences in any new areas, but should one be built it must meet the specifications within the ordinance. 9. Restated the requirement of maintenance in accordance with the Minimum Building Standards Code. The March presentation was to receive Council input on the requirements of a building permit for fence construction and provisions of gates to increase the access from private property to parkways. Requiring permits for fence construction would allow a clearer communication to the contractor or owner of the requirements associated with fence materials and construction methods, and the provision of gates was intended to increase the ease of owners to maintain the parkway areas adjacent to their property. The direction received from members of the Council included to 1) draft an ordinance that addresses the original issue of fences being built with materials intended for fences, 2) build on public education rather thar permit requirements, 3) communicate the benefits of more permanent construction methods and 4) interact with fence builders. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. Date: May 1, 2001 %X-s To the Mayor and Members of the City Council o Page 2 of 3 ra re SUBJECT: Allowable Fence Materials Ordinance To address the concerns and direction of the Council, staff recommends the following: Fences being constructed with materials intended for fences A consolidated listing of all fence requirements existing in the present Zoning Ordinance; a requirement that fences would have to be built of materials designed and produced as fence materials, and in areas located next to freeways or arterial streets the finished side of the fence will be directed to the public property. The proposed ordinance DOES NOT require metal posts so that when a violation of the facing requirement was found, the cure would not require extensive rework or cost to the owner nor would it require fences in areas that do not require fences under today's zoning ordinance. Public information rather than permit requirements The Development Department would begin with informing contractors of the requirements on building plans submitted for permits. Additionally, a public information sheet on the requirements, benefits of various construction methods and appropriate contacts will be developed and distributed on the City Web page, provided as a handout and shared with neighborhood associations, contractors and building supply retailers. Interaction with fence contractors The proposed public information sheet would be communicated to companies engaged in construction of fences. Their input into the benefits of certain construction methods would be valuable information to the consumer or property owner. Discussions with Fence contractors were held with development staff. It was pointed out the life expectancy of a fence is related to the structural members used in construction. The use of landscape timbers, as posts has an established minimum 3 years life before major repair work is required. This life expectancy is extended to 5 to 6 years if treated posts are used. Properly sized metal posts extend the useful life of a fence to beyond 20 years and the cost of providing metal posts for a standard wood fence is estimated to be approximately$2 per linear foot of fence. Maintenance to a wood fence (sealing or painting to prevent rot and decay) and no contact with the ground greatly increase the life expectancy. These benefits of more permanent construction methods and materials would be incorporated in the public information sheet. Should these actions address the key issues identified by Council, staff would complete the draft of the ordinance and submit it to the Zoning Commission on June 13, 2001. A Zoning Commission recommendation could be forwarded to the City Council on June 19 or during the regularly scheduled zoning hearing on July 10, 2001. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. Cate: May 1, 2001 wr To the Mayor and Members of the City Council p Page 3 of 3 �XA taT3 SUBJECT: Allowable Fence Materials Ordinance Should you have any additional questions regarding this issue, please contact Bob Riley, Development Director at 871-8901. Gary Jackson City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS