Fence around your corner property in Maplewood??!!???

It's been discussed many times, but I must now vent.   

I live on a busy corner.  I'd like to keep my dog and grandchildren safe in my yard.  I requested a fence permit, was denied and went before the Zoning Board, but only after spending a few hundred dollars and much effort jumping through many hoops.  

The members of the Zoning Board said that they were only there to enforce the law, not interpret or make any allowances on behalf of the appellant.  Why bother with the board at all?  I was told [by a member of the board] that only 2% of requests before the zoning board [for fences] are granted.  Why bother?  Why ask a resident to go through all the time and money if the decision is a forgone conclusion?!?  The fee alone for this privilege was $250.

I am so angry that I feel like I could spit nails.

The board gladly told me that hundreds of residents have made this request [fence a corner property].  Well, this is our town and it would seem logical that if enough people wanted to change an ordinance, it should at least be proposed.  

The ordinance proponents claim to want only vegetation to demarcate property lines, for aesthetic reasons.  Safety is obviously a secondary consideration.  Driving around town today, I lost count of how many corner properties are demarcated by large, dense shrubbery and trees, which impair vision around the corner.

If you are interested in joining me to attempt to have this ordinance changed, please message me.

Agree with you.  They could stipulate material and height, thus avoiding chain link.

Been there done that, different issue though.  We went through all you did, spent all that money to be quickly denied our request.  I never saw my husband so angry.  That unpleasant experience was the beginning of the end of us in Maplewood.  I sure wish it had turned out differently.

You know, usually I am one of the folks who defends our town governments, but I have to agree with Snowmom here.  I have appeared before the SO board to try to fight variances granted to developers and they almost seem automatically approved.  If they are only there to enforce the law they ought to act that way towards everyone.

krugle said:

Agree with you.  They could stipulate material and height, thus avoiding chain link.

I'm with you too, as a corner lot owner desiring a fence. 

We have corner fences allowed in South Orange, so if you can handle the noise from the leaf blowers you should come over and see that chaos that ensues as a result!

And what do you know, it's no chaos, just more 'usable' yard for us corner property owners. We looked at some corner properties in Maplewood and the lack of fences was a drawback for sure.

A long long time ago the powers that be in Maplewood decided that they didn't want fences facing streetside.   If that restriction were removed it would  change the feel and character of the town.   I'm not saying that would be a bad thing.  It might be a good thing.  I just think that if it is changed it should be done with a lot of care and consideration. If that ordinance is changed I hope people look at the whole picture and do it because its better for the entire town, and not for the convenience of a few homeowners who knew  what they were getting when they bought their homes.

I moved here 33 years ago and even then, corner properties sold at a discount because the fence restriction  impacted the ability to fence in a back yard in a corner house.    That discount still holds true today. 

 In my experience, corner properties sell at a 5 to 10% discount to similar properties with real back yards. The discount is even more on a busy street.  So, when Snowmom  bought her house, that restriction worked to her advantage because she likely paid a significantly lower price than if it had not been on a corner.  She knew or should have known the rules going in.   I'm sorry that it's inconvenient, but I think it's unrealistic to expect the rules to be adjusted just for her, especially when there is a work around.  Why not follow the suggestion made by the board and put up a dense row of arborvitae and on the inside,  and line it with chicken wire or pig wire.  An added benefit is that it will likely increase the value of her home when she goes to sell.

I believe zoning restrictions are important.   When people buy a home they are making a huge commitment.  It's not just a financial commitment, it's also a commitment to the community that they will be a part of.  Zoning laws help insure residents that their commitment will be protected.   Zoning restrictions keep neighbors and developers from making changes that will negatively impact  the quality of life of residents, and the value of their homes. 

I agree with film Carp.   I have been hugely disappointed with the "give them whatever they want"  attitude of the SO government towards developers.    But, I don't think that should be a reason to do away with zoning restrictions.   Instead, its a reason to get rid of the leaders who are so willing to breach them.

snowmom.... I am interested in this issue as well.  I'll message you.

Zoning board is there to provide variances for developers.

snowmom said:

It's been discussed many times, but I must now vent.   

I live on a busy corner.  I'd like to keep my dog and grandchildren safe in my yard.  I requested a fence permit, was denied and went before the Zoning Board, but only after spending a few hundred dollars and much effort jumping through many hoops.  

The members of the Zoning Board said that they were only there to enforce the law, not interpret or make any allowances on behalf of the appellant.  Why bother with the board at all?  I was told [by a member of the board] that only 2% of requests before the zoning board [for fences] are granted.  Why bother?  Why ask a resident to go through all the time and money if the decision is a forgone conclusion?!?  The fee alone for this privilege was $250.

I am so angry that I feel like I could spit nails.

The board gladly told me that hundreds of residents have made this request [fence a corner property].  Well, this is our town and it would seem logical that if enough people wanted to change an ordinance, it should at least be proposed.  

The ordinance proponents claim to want only vegetation to demarcate property lines, for aesthetic reasons.  Safety is obviously a secondary consideration.  Driving around town today, I lost count of how many corner properties are demarcated by large, dense shrubbery and trees, which impair vision around the corner.

If you are interested in joining me to attempt to have this ordinance changed, please message me.

My mom lives on a corner property that sits on a very busy corner.  People cut through her yard all the time.  She tried to get a variance, and was told to use "creative landscaping" to keep trespassers out. Nothing we've tried in terms of landscaping has worked.  She even tried putting patio furniture on the walkway to deter people from using it to walk through the yard.  The best was the time that she was sitting in her yard and someone cut through WHILE SHE WAS THERE.  He then had the audacity to complain that her patio furniture was blocking his way.

Yahooyahoo _ I think you nailed it.

Going back to the OP, the Zoning Board does enforce the law.  The developers come up with legal reasons to get there requests approved.  While safety and privacy are nice, without the correct arguments, the zoning board has no grounds to approve your requests. 

It sucks since it makes almost no financial sense for any small things while provide a way for larger scale projects to bypass our rules.

You may realize this, but you are allowed a 24" fence.  I know kids/peeps can still cross over a corner, but I agree with that it's nice to have a fence, but it really could change the look of the town if we started allowing. When I purchased my corner property, the previous owners had rose bushes as fences, which actually was crafty in that it was prickly!!  I would do a row of boxwoods or something, then line w wire fence behind as suggested above..

One problem with having a hedge or row of trees adjacent to the sidewalk is that they need to be pruned regularly to keep them from overgrowing the sidewalk, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk past the property safely.  There are some sidewalks in town where you literally need a machete to pass in safety.  We finally removed a line of hemlocks for this reason.  Another problem is the need to keep vegetation at a corner low enough for passing motorists to be able to maintain a line of sight when proceeding through the adjacent intersection.  There really is no easy solution.

There are specific instances in which corner property owners can put up a fence.  Check the most recent town ordinance on fencing for the conditions/requirements.