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SearchBanner Adpublished: Sunday, November 29, 2009 
Sebring eyes ban on chain link fences in front yards By ED BALDRIDGE SEBRING -- The City of Sebring will consider the second reading of two ordinances at Tuesday's city council meeting that prohibits the use of chain link fences in front yards, and changes the set backs for side yards. On Oct. 20, the council directed planning and zoning to address the fence issues in residential zones. Recent issues surrounding a residence at 503 Center St. has created quite a bit of discussion over placement and height of fences along residential streets. With the change in the Sebring Parkway, and the renovation of Center Street, there is a dispute between the City of Sebring and the property owner over placement of a wall with a chain link fence on top. Construction on the sidewalk in front of the wall was halted because with the street widening, the wall impedes the building of a sidewalk up to code. The city alleges that the wall is on the right of way, and the homeowner claims the wall was permitted and inspected when it was build in the early 1990s, and was up to code at that time. According to the homeowner, removing the wall would cause additional problems with the grade of the front yard since the wall retains almost four foot of back fill to make the ground level with the house. Fence placement can be a considerable safety issue, especially along busy streets where traffic speeds are high, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Additionally, council also asked during its Nov. 17 meeting that chain link fences in front yards be prohibited all together. To remedy the visibility issue, the Planning and Zoning Board reaffirmed the need for a "visibility triangle" that includes limiting the height of fences and plants at intersections. Plantings will be allowed in the visibility triangle that are less than two-and-a-half feet tall, and all fences in the front yard are limited to five feet tall. Fences in the side or rear areas are limited to six feet in height, unless adjacent to a nonresidential property, then fences can be up to eight feet tall. For driveways, a 10-foot visibility triangle is established, and at intersections, a 15-foot triangle has to be reserved if posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. At intersections with speed limits that exceed 35 miles per hour, a 25-foot triangle has to be observed. The measurements have to be taken from the corner of the intersection, or driveway, and go out the determined length in each direction. An imaginary line is then drawn at the end of each measurement across the yard to the other measurement end. The ordinance for setbacks for side yards will also have a second reading during the meeting, and for property zoned R-1A a seven-and-a-half feet buffer must be observed. All measurements for side yards are taken from the property lines, and dictates that buildings or other structures cannot be within the setback.  (by: Rusty Shackleford - 12/5/2009) Very true Horseman, where's my mule? where's my forty acres? Where's my dream mr. emancipator? American dream destroyed one tiny little town at a time. Meanwhile, good fences make good neighbors. Sigh! (by: TheHorseman - 12/4/2009) Anyone who has lived in this town for 50 years as I have, have seen the deterioration of access to all public and private lands in the county. It's getting suckier and suckier to live here unless you have enough money to buy 40 acres and live there. Read the packet (by: Serbing resident - 12/3/2009) Yes, that is the ordinance, but the city is discussing doing away with all chain link fences, read the proposed changes. Even those without slats are being considered. TO RIC: (by: Spectre - 12/2/2009) Ric, you're on the right track but you should have taken it a little bit further as far as property ownership is concerned. You can have your home/property paid for free and clear (no mortgage) but........don't pay your property taxes and see what happens. You could lose the home/property. In reality, you never really own a home or property. And they want to tell you what you can and can't do with your property. Before we purchased our home in 2003, twice....TWICE, I asked the real estate agent if there were any deed restrictions in the area and she stated "no" both times. We bought and then found out that there were deed restrictions. I put real estate agents in the same category as lawyers. I have no use for either one. No, I don't live in the city. Remember, pay your taxes folks. LOL Fences and Walls (by: read the ordinance! - 12/2/2009) "Sec. 26-171. Fences and Walls, A.3. Chain link fences of up to (4) four feet in height that do not include slats or other coverings and that do not obstruct the view of motorists are allowed in the Visibility Triangle. Fences (by: Not a Gated Community Lover - 11/30/2009) Nice that they're focusing on a traffic problem, but doesn't it seem like they're over doing it? chain link (by: confused on penny - 11/29/2009) I can see through a chain link fence... i can't see through the other kinds... if i want a fence around my yard, what sort of fencing can i have? If i have a pool, even an inflatable, i have to have a fence with a locking door (sited for that this past summer-yes an inflatable pool) so where should i start and end my fence!?? too confusing.... Private property rights? (by: Ric - 11/29/2009) Wake up America! Chain link Fence (by: Douglas - 11/29/2009) If visibility is the issue why are chain link fences being banned? There are plenty of blind intersections but chain link fences are not part of them. You see through them. It is high hedges and wood fences that are obstructions. PROJECT CITY MAINTAINED PRIVATE BEACH FOR THE CHOSEN ONES (by: You damned well know it's Rusty Shackleford - 11/29/2009) No Preston, as a matter of fact we have not seen Hidden Beach lately, but thank you so very f@#$ing much for asking, kind gentleman. Remember, us po folks got kicked the hell out of Hidden Beach years ago cause we couldn't drive our smoking, rattling, backfiring, poor people jalopies up there and park them. That became a city maintained private beach for the select few that live in walking proximity to it, as planned all along. As I recall, the standpoint for the argument that led to the denied access to the poor was people peeing behind their cars, which would have been in plain sight of a few select neighbors of the beach. Solution that apparently escaped the greed clouded minds of the perpetrators of PROJECT PRIVATE BEACH!!: Restrooms!!!!!!!!!!!!!...We found a way to put them at Veteran's Beach, why not Crescent and Hidden? Problem solved. We all know Snob Hollow wanted Crescent Beach to themselves too, but at least they had a leg to stand on, the parking was very limited, and monkeytards commonly double, even triple parked, leaving people unable to leave until finding owners of cars blocking them. Haven't seen Hidden Beach lately Preston, have you? Are you "in the loop?" just duh.... (by: tired of this issue - 11/29/2009) nothing like the city throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Stick with the issue at hand and that is 503 east center's gargantuan wall. Making policy and new rulings based on this horrible wall is NOT the way to go. And PCH, what does the entrance to a beach no one has access too have anything to do with this? Line-of-sight needs (by: Preston H. Colby - 11/29/2009) Anybody been to Sebring's Hidden Beach lately? That exit is an excellant example of "why" line-of-sight needs to be enforced. Regards... PHC Fences (by: ben - 11/29/2009) Does this mean that if you already have a fence, you have to move it. Or does it grandfather in?  Small Banner Ads |
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