Wellington’s Architectural Review Board on Wednesday, March 16 recommended approval of a horizontal wooden fence that had been installed at a home on Pine Valley Drive that is not on the village’s list of approved fence styles.
Senior Planner Kelly Ferraiolo said owner Scott Thedwall had purchased the single-family residence in 2017. A building permit was issued to Thedwall in December 2021 allowing the installation of a 235-foot, 6-foot vertical wooden fence with two 48-inch gate openings.
In January 2022, a village building inspector failed the final inspection because the fence installed was horizontal, Ferraiolo said, explaining that ARB approval is required for alternative fence designs.
She noted that the fence does meet all other requirements of the village code, other than still needing a hedge in the area fronting the road, which is set back 75 feet from the right of way. The hedge must be the height of the fence within three years of installation of the fence.
“The fence eventually would not be visible from the right of way, except for the two 48-inch gate openings,” Ferraiolo said, adding that the fence has enhanced the curb appeal of the property.
Staff recommended approval of the petition for an alternative design.
Board Member Luis Rodriguez asked if this was the same contractor that was involved in a similar case that was approved by the board recently, and Ferraiolo said it was not.
Thedwall said his contractor knew ahead of time that the fence was going to be a horizontal design, and it was initially permitted but rejected on final inspection.
Ferraiolo said the fence types were approved more than 20 years ago by the ARB, and the sitting board is allowed to change them.
“If you decide that this is a more common occurrence, and it looks nice on these properties… you can add that fence material to the approved fence chart, which staff is not opposed to because we see them all the time, and we think they look very nice,” she said.
Board Member Tom Wenham asked if the board was adding the horizontal fence design to the approved list that evening, and Ferraiolo said that village staff has been getting phone calls asking about alternative fence designs. If it is not on the list, they do not install it.
Board Member Dayna Bertola said people are willfully violating the code, using the same example that the ARB approved in a previous case.
Rodriquez made a motion to approve the horizontal fence design with stipulations set forth by village staff. The motion carried 4-2 with Wenham and Bertola dissenting.
