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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 11, 2009 Afroz Khan reported that her husband is in the Army and is overseas and the security system is a protection for her and her younger son who lives in the house. Knudsen asked why shrubbery or trees were not considered. Khan reported that her neighbor preferred fencing, and noted that it would take some time for shrubbery or trees to grow to reach a size that would be effective. Knudsen did not feel the fence secured a lot, and asked if the fence was screening from unfriendly neighbors. Afroz Khan reported that she likely to work in her yard, and is approached by people from the apartments. Shaz Khan stated that the fence will not provide protection in and of itself. It provides a screening so that the yard is no directly in the line of site of people walking through the area. Shaz Khan stated that due to the past incidents that have occurred, they have no comfort level on their own property. Duray asked if the fence is on the property line. Afroz Khan indicated that the fence was within her property line, but the neighbor has no objection to the fence in the event it has inadvertently crossed the line. Afroz Khan reported that she has lived in her home since ] 992 with only one vandalism problem. However, since the trees were taken down last fall, there have several incidents. These include an ATV being stolen, air let out of car tires, the locks broken on cars, garbage cans stolen, and the basketball hoop being broken down twice. Afioz Khan reported that the sensor security system had previously been mounted in the trees. Knudsen noted that this is a difficult issue given the Commission's need to find a hardship to warrant the granting of the variance. He noted that the hardship has to be narrow enough that a precedent is set up that anyone experiencing vandalism would request a similar variance from the City. Shaz Khan noted that they have been residents of the City for many years and have never sought to block themselves off from the rest of the City. He noted the hardship as outlined in the City Planner's report and reviewed that information for the commission. Knudsen pointed out that the issue is that every property owner in sight of Montreal Com-ts could come in and request a similar variance. Afroz Khan was concerned that something serious was going to happen and indicated that without approval for the fence, she would hold the City responsible. Everson noted that there appears to be a before and after effect that shows an increase in vandalism and problems after the trees were removed. -9-