Star council adopts development-code changes to allow narrow annexation waivers, taller backyard fences and temporary markets

The Star City Council on May 5 adopted ordinance 437-2026 amending Title 8 of the Star Municipal Code to establish a limited special-exception to annexation, allow an administrative fencing-height waiver up to 8 feet in narrowly defined settings and add temporary-use standards to permit seasonal events such as farmers markets.

City planning staff presented three focused changes the council had been discussing for months. Staff described the annexation amendment as a “case-by-case” waiver to avoid forcing property owners to pursue full annexation and public hearings for minor lot splits. The council narrowed the language during deliberations so the new special exception applies specifically to lot splits and parcel-line adjustments, a change council members said would prevent broader, unintended exemptions.

The fence amendment (8-4A-11) allows an administrative permit to approve fences up to 8 feet in height when the fence is entirely internal (rear-yard to rear-yard), not adjacent to public rights-of-way or common-area lots, and when all affected property owners give written permission. Ed Zeiler, a homeowner who has been working with staff, told the council the change would remedy development-grade differences that left some neighbors with effective fences far below the nominal six-foot standard: “We’re just trying to make everything even, private,” Zeiler said. Council members emphasized conditions such as measuring height from the bottom of the ground to the top of the panel and requiring written neighbor consent.

The code changes also revise temporary-use rules to allow seasonal, recurring events — including farmers markets, concert series and temporary food vendors — in commercial districts for up to one season without requiring a conditional-use permit; repeated seasons at the same site would require a conditional use. Staff added the fire district to the review process and retained the city’s authority to impose site-specific conditions to protect health and safety.

Council members voted separately on each code change. A motion to adopt the annexation exception narrowed to lot splits carried unanimously; the fence-waiver amendment passed on a unanimous roll call; and the temporary-use updates for farmers markets were approved in the same vote package. Mayor Trevor A. Chadwick and councilmembers approved ordinance 437-2026 by roll-call vote.

The council also agreed to table the remainder of municipal-code and comprehensive-plan amendments until July 21, 2026, while bringing two items (a single-family rental-registration ordinance and a sign ordinance) back for possible consideration in June.

The ordinance takes effect as provided by law and staff will prepare the final ordinance language and administrative procedures for implementation.