Paragonah planning commission recommends fence-height changes including taller corrals

The Paragonah Planning Commission opened a public hearing March 25 on proposed amendments to Title 15 that would update maximum heights for fences, walls and hedges and remove outdated language last revised decades ago. The commission heard no public comments during the hearing and moved to recommend the changes to the Town Board.

Chair Holly called the hearing and said the draft largely ‘‘cleaned up’’ language from the 1980s and added one targeted change requested by the Town Board in December: ‘‘add something in there for a little higher fence for the corrals and enclosures for those cow, sheep, goats that love to jump,’’ she said, explaining the rationale for a higher maximum in agricultural enclosures.

Commissioner S6 moved to open the public hearing and later moved to close it; Commissioner S2 moved that the commission recommend the proposed amendments to the Town Board and Commissioner S5 seconded. The motions carried by voice vote with commissioners saying "aye." The commission also discussed doing a roll call for final recommendation records.

The hearing record and the planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Board, which has authority to adopt, amend or reject the proposed ordinance changes. The commission’s next formal step on this item is to deliver its written recommendation and supporting materials to the Town Board for consideration at a subsequent meeting.