Planning Commission sets April 14 public hearing to consider fence-code changes

The Goodland Planning Commission voted to set a public hearing on April 14 for ordinance 1817, which would revise several fence-code provisions.

Staff explained the proposed changes: increase the required setback between a sideyard fence and the back of curb from 4 feet to 6 feet (to allow a one-foot buffer for future ADA sidewalks); make the maximum allowable fence height consistent at 7 feet across code sections (counting footer elevation); and align front-yard transparency and height references (for transparency percentages and permitted heights). Staff noted that taller fences still can be approved via variance and that certain institutional uses may use barbed wire above seven feet with conditions.

Commissioner motion to set a public hearing carried on a voice vote with one recorded opposition. If the City Commission approves the ordinance after public hearing, the changes would alter minimum fence offsets and height references in zoning code sections and municipal code where currently inconsistent language exists.