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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZoning Board Of Appeals - Minutes - 04/25/1991ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS April 25, 1991 Special Meeting - 8:30am - 3325 Citation Court MINUTES The special meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held on Thursday, April 25, 1991 at 3325 Citation Court. Roll was answered by Boardmembers Anastasio, Huddleson, Gustafson, Garber and Wilmarth. Boardmember absent: Lancaster Staff members present: Barnes and Reichert Paul Eckman, City Attorney Appeal #1985.- Section 29-511(3) by John Giuliano for the owners of 3325 Citation Court. The variance would allow a portion of a 6 foot high fence to be located within 75 feet of the centerline intersection of 2 streets. Specifically, it would allow the fence to be located within 52 feet of the center of the intersection of Riva Ridge Drive and Meadowlark Avenue, with the majority of that portion of the fence being constructed of 6 foot high wrought iron in order to increase pedestrian and vehicular sight distances. The bottom 32 inches of the wrought iron would be skirted with a wood skirt. (The 2 existing corner posts would be removed as requested by the City Transportation Department, and the remaining fence would be a diagonal at the corner.) Petitioner's statement of hardship: The lot has frontage on 3 streets, Citation, Meadowlark and Riva Ridge. Normally, a corner lot has frontage on only 2 streets, and the backyard is not fronting on another street. While the fence would be within the 75 foot sight distance, no vehicular hazard is present because Meadowlark Avenue curves away from Riva Ridge, so oncoming traffic is visible. Pedestrian and bicyclist safety is provided for by leaving the corner of the yard unfenced, with the remaining fencing in the corner area being constructed of wrought iron in order to allow see -through visibility. ----- Staff comments: On April 11, 1991 the Board heard a different variance request for this property. The Board was in general agreement that a hardship exists because the 3 street frontages around this lot create a very unique situation. The Board expressed concern about the safety of people walking or riding their bikes on the sidewalk behind the fence. Therefore, the variance that was granted was one which "opened up" a portion of the corner of the lot. The petitioner believes that the wrought iron design, when coupled with the removal of the two corner posts, will have the same effect. Zoning Administrator, Peter Barnes explained and pointed out the variance that was granted at the regular meeting, April 11, 1991, of the Zoning Board of Appeals and explained the request of the petitioner today. Mr. Barnes reminded the Board of the memorandum from Syl Mireles, Traffic Technician for the City of Fort Collins stating the minimum changes needed were: 1) remove the two wooden posts located on the northwest corner 2) install stop sign at the southwest corner for eastbound traffic and a "Stop Ahead" sign prior to the intersection. Boardmember Anastasio asked what the spacing would be on the wrought iron fence. Mr. Guiliano stated the wrought iron would be 3/4 by 3/4 uprights with 8" spacing. Mr. Barnes stated there is no code for wrought iron fences. The Board asked if Mr. Giuliano had any input. He submitted two pictures to the Board of samples of wrought iron fencing in the City. He stated the pictures indicated 6" spacing and the property in appeal would have spacing of 811. No one else spoke in favor of the application. Barbara Crandall, 3401 Riva Ridge Drive, was concerned about what type of vegetation would be put in. in the first appeal there was a provision about the height of vegetation, with that provision, the appeal seemed okay and she had no problem with the variance. The Board had a discussion regarding the landscaping both inside and "outside the wrought iron fence. Boardmember Garber marked off with a tape measure the posts where the wrought iron would be. Boardmember Wilmarth moved that the Board approve Appeal #1985 with the amended variances. The Board will approve the two posts being removed from the corner, a 32" wooden fence along the bottom and the remainder fence be wrought iron up to 6'. The spacing of the wrought iron be 8" apart for visibility purposes and the planting of vegetation outside be no higher than 32" and inside the fence no higher than 32". Boardmember Garber seconded the motion. Yeas: Anatasio, Garber, Wilmarth, Gustafson, Huddleson. Meeting was adjourned. 0 Next meeting - May 9, 1991 - City Council Chambers. Respectfully Submitted Chuck Huddleson, Chairman Peter Barnes, Zoning Administrator CH/PB/aer