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MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />MAY 14, 2015 <br />used, and requiring landscaping to minimize the view of the fence from <br />abutting properties. The Planner indicated that in discussing the property <br />owner's request for special fencing along the railroad tracks with the City <br />Council, the Council was willing to look at an amendment and initiate that <br />amendment by the City rather than the property owner. <br />Ledin asked about a fence requests that would not necessarily be abutting <br />a railroad but would be higher than the 6 1/2 foot fence maximum. The <br />Planner indicated that if the fence did not fall into the special purpose <br />fence category, then a Variance would be need to construct a fence over <br />61/2 feet high. <br />Ledin clarified that a Conditional Use Permit is needed for a special <br />purpose fence, the Planner is just proposing guidelines and standards for <br />such a fence abutting the railroad property. The Planner replied that that is <br />correct. He also noted that anything allowed by CUP is presumed to be an <br />allowable use as long as specific conditions are met. With a Variance, the <br />proposal must meet a different set of standards, such as the requirement <br />that there be practical difficulties present that justify the need for a <br />Variance. <br />Buesing asked if fence would be a solid fence. The City Planner replied <br />that it would be if used for screening from the railroad. Buesing felt that a <br />12 foot fence would be too high. Davison agreed, and indicated that a 12 <br />foot fence would look out -of -place, especially if there were no similar <br />fences in the area. Buesing stated that he could understand why a property <br />owner along the railroad would want the fence, but indicated that it would <br />stop very little sound. Buesing asked if there would be a minimum <br />number of linear feel required before the fence could be 12 feet high. The <br />City Planner stated that a linear foot minimum could be added as a <br />standard in the Code, but pointed out that such a fence would require a <br />CUP and the City could determine the conditions as each proposal is <br />considered. <br />Buesing asked if an engineering seal would be required on the fence <br />design. The City Planner suggested that the fence would have to meet the <br />building code. Buesing stated that someone should be looking at the fence <br />relative to wind load, etc. The Planner indicated that in doing a permit <br />review, the Building Official would determine whether or not an <br />engineering certification would be required. <br />Duray felt that the City should help those property owners that live <br />adjacent to the railroad tracks. He pointed out that a 12 -foot high fence <br />would be similar to the sound barriers along the freeway and anticipated a <br />fence of this height would be expensive to construct. <br />-4 <br />