Richardson board approves 8-foot front-yard fence for Greenwood Hills corner lot

The Richardson Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve a special exception that allows an 8-foot wooden fence in the required front yard along Sandalwood Avenue at 907 Loganwood Avenue.

Christine Ross, planner II in the city’s Development Services Department, told the board the request (SE2601) is made under Chapter 6, Article 4 (Section 6-209(3)) of the City of Richardson code of ordinances. She said the lot is a 0.24-acre corner parcel in the Greenwood Hills subdivision and that the applicant proposes to include the required 15-by-20 visibility triangle at the southwest corner of the site. "Therefore, staff recommends approval," Ross said.

The applicants, Karen Soyasu and her partner (identified in the record as Bartholomew Wheeler), told the board they bought the house after previous fences had been removed and that they want to secure the backyard for their young child. "We're just wanting to, you know, protect our family and protect our property," Soyasu said. Her partner added that the fence would address safety where pedestrians and vehicles cut through the driveway and would improve the neighborhood view.

During questioning, board members confirmed the shed that previously blocked the driveway was not on the property when the applicants purchased it; Ross said permitting for the new fence would be handled by the Building Inspection department if the board granted the exception. A committee member moving approval argued the request "does not appear to be contrary to public safety and does not appear to negatively impact neighboring properties." The motion was seconded and passed with four ayes from members present.

The board's official roll call listing staff named Phil Thames, Sabrina Bohnsack, Musa Motta and Mohammed Hafez as members present; the board recorded the motion as approved by the four members in attendance. After the vote, the acting chair closed the meeting at 6:47 p.m.

The applicants must follow the normal building-permit process after the exception is granted; staff did not indicate any further conditions beyond the applicant's stated plan to include the required visibility triangle.