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Item No: 10 D Meeting Date: May 8, 2000 Type of Business: WK WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor & City Council From: James Ericson, Planner Item Title/Subject: Discussion and Consideration of Ordinance 658, an Emergency Ordinance Allowing for the Installation of Eight-foot Tall Fences in Front Yards under Certain Circumstances. Date of Report: May 4, 2000 Discussion: This emergency ordinance is before the Council in response to a matter that was discussed at the May 1, 2000 Worksession meeting regarding the property owner of 8438 Groveland Road. As the Council may recall, the property owner had requested a variance from the Planning Commission to install an eight-foot tall fence in her front yard to protect herself and her family from the allegedly abusive behavior of the adjoining property owner to the north. The Planning Commission, while very sympathetic to the applicant’s situation, could find no property-based hardship associated with the request and acted to deny the request. The applicant then appealed that decision to the City Council. At the worksession meeting, much discussion was given to the possible landscaping options that may be utilized to provide for a suitable screening between the two properties. The applicant had indicated that for some reason, none of her landscaping was able to grow between the two properties and was thus reluctant to invest significant sums into additional landscaping only to see that too fail. The Council took testimony from Chief Clark regarding the ongoing police activity at the neighbor’s location, substantiating the applicant’s testimony concerning the incidents of harassment, loud parties, suspicious activities and the like. It was noted that in the last few years, the police had been dispatched to the property more than fifty times, with citations being issued and the neighbor arrested on occasion. The applicant, who takes great pride in the appearance of her yard and property and has lived in the house for thirty years, feels the only suitable and acceptable solution--short of moving--is the installation of a fence tall enough to reduce, if not eliminate, all contact with the neighbor. Staff was then directed to research all of the possible solutions and to present its findings at a future Council meeting.