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CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT
CASE NUMBER: 2011-0403
DATE: April 5, 2011
TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission
APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights
LOCATION: City Wide
REQUEST: Zoning Amendment Pertaining to Fence Regulations
PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner
BACKGROUND
Currently, city regulations pertaining to fences are located in two separate sections of the
City Code. The first location is at Chapter 6, Article IV of the Municipal Code, which deals
with building and construction standards. The second location is at Chapter 9, Article I,
which is the Zoning Code. Staff feels that these two sections should be combined and
located in one area of the City Code in order to make it easier for the general public to
gather the necessary information when constructing a fence.
On January 4, 2011, staff presented the Planning Commission with a text amendment
combining these two sections with slight modifications to the ordinance regarding fencing.
When staff presented the proposed amendment to the City Council, the City Council
wanted to see language added to the ordinance to better address barbed wire fences.
Barbed wire fences will still require a Conditional Use Permit, but language has been
added to clarify the type of barbed wire fencing that the City would allow.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and reinvest in the housing
stock to protect values and investment in the city. The proposed ordinance amendment
would make it easier for the general public to gather the necessary information when
constructing a fence.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The following outlines the key aspects of the proposed ordinance change:
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission April 5, 2011
City of Columbia Heights, Fence Regulations Case # 2011-0403
1. Chapter 6, Article IV of the Municipal Code would be deleted in its entirety.
2. The construction standards from Chapter 6, Article IV of the Municipal Code will
be transferred to the Zoning Code.
3. Residential fences greater than six (6) feet in height will require a Conditional
Use Permit.
4. Non-residential fences greater than seven (7) feet in height shall require a
Conditional use Permit.
5. Barbed wire fences will still be allowed in the industrial district, but will now
require a Conditional Use Permit, with specific standards for construction.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Section 9.104 (F) of the Columbia Heights zoning code requires that the City Council make
each of the following four findings before approving a zoning amendment:
1. The amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and reinvest in the
housing stock to protect values and investment in the city. The proposed ordinance
amendment would make it easier for the general public to gather the necessary
information when constructing a fence.
2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a
single property owner.
The proposed amendment would be effective for all properties within the city.
3. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, the existing use of the property and the zoning classification of
property within the general area of the property in question are compatible with
the proposed zoning classification.
Not applicable.
4. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, there has been a change in the character or trend of development in
the general area of the property in question, which has taken place since such
property was placed in the current zoning classification.
Not applicable.
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City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission April 5, 2011
City of Columbia Heights, Fence Regulations Case # 2011-0403
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed Zoning Amendment.
Motion:
That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the
proposed zoning amendment.
Attachments
Draft zoning ordinance
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