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<br /> <br />Staff Report Ordinance 909 <br />November 9, 2015 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />Revisions Since First Reading <br /> <br />The ordinance presented for the second reading and adoption has been revised since the <br />first reading to provide additional clarity regarding a fence or wall impeding natural drainage. <br />Because fences are often located within easement areas, the following language has been <br />added to proposed Subd 6 of Section 1103.08: “No fence or wall shall obstruct natural <br />drainage or impede the function and flowage within a dedicated drainage easement”. <br /> <br />In addition, Staff would like the City Council consider amending the Ordinance to remove the <br />requirement for a one-foot setback for a fence abutting right of way. While I understand and <br />appreciate the Planning Commission’s reasoning behind the suggested change, requiring <br />such a setback would make hundreds of fences in the City non-conforming and would force <br />residents with existing fences to seek a variance to keep the fence in the same location when <br />it comes time to replace it. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Staff recommends the City Council open the public hearing for this code amendment and <br />take public feedback regarding the proposed changes. Barring any concerns or additional <br />revisions, staff would recommend approval of the second reading and adoption of <br />Ordinance 909, amending City Code Chapter 1103, pertaining to fencing, screening and <br />landscaping. The Ordinance includes a section that authorizes publication of the <br />ordinance summary in the newspaper in lieu of the entirety of the ordinance, in accordance <br />with Section 3.07 of the City Charter. <br /> <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br /> _____________________ <br />James Ericson, <br />City Administrator <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Diagram showing allowed fence height locations with proposed amendment <br />2. Ordinance 909