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08-16-05 Item 11CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor & Commission Members _ -1 t From: Maria V. Davis l— City Manager b South Miami AII•AmrficaCky m 2001 Date: August 16, 2005 ITEM No. Re: LDC Amendment: Height of Fences Adjacent To a Right -of -Way ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 20 -3.6 (H) (2) (c) OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE ,CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM 60% OPEN AREA ON THE TOP TWO (2) FEET OF FENCES ADJACENT TO A RIGHT- OF-WAY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BACKGROUND The City Manager on behalf of a member of the City Commission has requested consideration of changing the one section of the regulations governing the height of fences adjacent to rights - of way. At present Section 20- 3.6(H) of the South Miami Land Development Code provides that all fences, walls, gates and trellises are limited in height to six feet above grade, except where the fence is along a street in a side yard. A side yard fence or wall that faces a street can not exceed four feet in height. However two additional feet may be added if that two foot portion of the fence or wall is at least 60% open or can be seen through. The proposed amendment to this section would allow six foot high fences, walls , gates, and trellises to be solid by eliminating the requirement that the top two feet (three feet if a gate) must be open or see through. PROPOSED AMENDMENT A specific amendment ordinance was considered and modified on first reading at the December 7, 2004 Commission meeting. The Ordinance was then deferred and sent to the Planning Board for review and comment. Following additional reviews and suggestions of alternative changes by the Planning Board, the City Commission again considered the proposed (Dec. 2004) draft ordinance at its meeting on August 2, 2005. At that time the ordinance was modified again and approved on first reading. The amendment section of the Code is as follows: (new wording added is shown in bold/underlined; language to be removed indicated by stFike *ugh) LDC Amendment August 16, 2005 Page 2 of 3 (LDC) Section 20 -3.6 (H) Physical Barriers. (1) All fences, walls, trellises and hedges may be erected on or along a property line, but shall not extend into official public rights -of -way or project on or over adjacent properties. (2) Height limit. Residential: (a) Chain link fences will not be permitted on required yards adjacent to a right -of -way. (b) In required side yards , fences, walls, and trellises (excluding arbors) shall not exceed six (6) feet in height above grade. (c) In required front yards adjacent to a right -of -way, fences, walls, trellises, gates and hedges shall not exceed four (4) feet in height above grade. Fences and walls may be increased by two (2) feet in height above grade and gates may be increased by three (3) feet above grade provided that the upper two (2) feet of the fence and wall surface and the upper three (3) feet of the gate between vertical supports is designed as a uniform pattern with a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area. (i)Wooden fences exceeding four (4) feet in height along rights -of -way shall provide for a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area for all portions between four (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. The graphic "Wooden Fence Types" includes an example of both an unacceptable and acceptable prototypes. (ii) Masonry walls exceeding four (4) feet in height along rights -of -way shall provide a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area for all portions between four (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. No portion of any solid masonry wall above four (4) feet in height above grade along rights -of -way shall exceed sixteen (16) inches in width. This is to provide for vertical support (per Section 20- 3.6(H)(2)(c)) of screening material. The remaining balance of open area may be screened by metal worker lattice or any other non - masonry screening material. A minimum of sixty (60) percent open area shall be maintained. The graphic "Masonry Wall Types" includes an example of both an unacceptable and acceptable prototypes. PLANNING BOARD ACTION The Planning Board considered the issue at its March 8 and May 10, 2005 meetings. The Board at its May 10, 2005 meeting reviewed a compromise proposal which: (1) maintains the requirement that the top two feet of a wooden fence facing a side street must have some portion of it open; (2) maintains the requirement that the top two feet of a concrete wall facing a side street must have a required open area of at least 40 % but can not exceed 60% and concrete columns must be the standard 1' 4" in width; (3) Provides that the 4' high solid portion of walls and fences facing a side street can be increased if the wall or fence is moved back from the property line and landscaping installed abutting the wall or fence. The Planning Board's alternative ordinance was reviewed by the City Commission at its August 2, 2005 meeting, however, the Commission determined to consider its version, incorporating some of the Planning Board's recommendations. LDC Amendment August 16, 2005 Page 3 of 3 STAFF OBSERVATIONS (1) The proposed amendment is in response to the observation of several examples of six foot high wood fences with very unattractive upper two feet of lattice wood. (2) The above amendment as modified by the City Commission would allow all walls, gates, and fences in side yards to be solid up to six feet above grade. Front yards facing a street would remain limited to four feet but could increase to six feet if the extra two feet has a 60% open area. Two additional revisions expanding the width of concrete columns and removing the requirement that lattices be made of wood were added at the August 2, 2005 meeting. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Commission adopt on second reading the proposed amendment ordinance. The specific amendment language is shown above and is included in the attached draft ordinance. Attachments: First reading ordinance, approved by City Commission LDC Sec. 20 -3.6 Existing Graphics Planning Board Minutes Excerpt 5 -10 -05 Public Notices MD/DOD /SAY EXomm Items \2005 \8 -16 -05 \LDC Amend Fences Report.doc 1 City Commission Ord. 2 Approved Pt reading 8-2-05 3 4 ORDINANCE NO. 5 6 7 'AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY 8 COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA 9 AMENDING SECTION 20 -3.6 (H) (2) (c) OF THE :LAND to DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI 11 TO MODIFY THE REQUIRED, MINIMUM 60 %o OPEN AREA 12 ON THE TOP TWO (2) FEET OF FENCES ADJACENT TO .A 13 RIGHT -OF -WAY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; 14 PROVIDING FOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND 15 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 16 17 18 19 WHEREAS, the City of ;South Miami heretofore enacted a Land 20 Development Code on October 25, 1989, which Code in Section 20 -3.6 (H) (2) 21 provides for height limits on fences, walls, trellises, and hedges; and 22 23 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami heretofore amended the Land 24 Development Code on June 1, 1993, providing conditions for height limits on 25 fences, walls, trellises, and gates; and 26 27 WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission felt that the existing 28 conditions are too restrictive and on December 7, 2004 considered on first 29 reading an ordinance modifying the regulations pertaining to height limits on 30 fences and walls; and 31 32 WHEREAS, the Planning Board at its May 10, 2005 meeting, after a 33 public hearing, adopted a motion by the vote of 5 ayes 0 nays recommending 34 approval of an alternative amendment ordinance pertaining to height limits on 35 fences and walls; and 36 37 WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami 38 considered the recommendation of the Planning Board and determined that it is 39 appropriate to adopt a modified version of the ordinance reviewed and amended at 40 the Commission meeting on December 7 2004. 41 42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND 43 CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA 44 THAT: 45 46 Section 1. Section 20-3.6(H) of the Land Development Code is amended 47' to read: 1 (2) 2 3 LDCI Section 20 -3.6 4 "(H) Physical Barriers. 5 6 (1) All fences, walls, trellises and hedges may be erected on or along a property line, 7 but shall not extend into official public rights -of -way or project on or over 8 adjacent properties. 9 10 (2) Height limit. Residential.' 11 12 (a) Chain link fences will not be permitted on required yards adjacent to a right -of -way. 13 14 (b) In required side yards net w *„eew .. a ,Might — fences, walls, and trellises, 15 (excluding arbors) shall not exceed six (6) feet in height above grade. 16 17 (c) In required ront yards adjacent to a right -of -way fences, walls, trellises, 18 gates and hedges shall not exceed four (4) feet in height above grade. Fences and 19 walls may be increased by two (2) feet in height above grade and gates may be 20 increased by three (3) feet above grade provided that the upper two (2) feet of the 21 fence and wall surface and the upper three (3) feet of the gate between vertical 22 supports is designed as a uniform pattern with a minimum of sixty (60) percent , 23 open area 24 25 26 (1) Wooden fences exceeding four (4) feet in height along rights -of -way shall 27 provide for a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area for all portions between 28 four (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. The graphic "Wooden Fence 29 Types" includes an example of both an unacceptable and acceptable prototypes. 30 31 (ii) Masonry walls exceeding four (4) feet in height along rights of -way shall 32 provide a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area for all portions between four 33 (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. No portion of any solid masonry wall 34 above four (4) feet in height above grade along rights -of -way shall exceed sixteen 35 LL6) inches in width. This is to provide for vertical support (per 36 Section 20- 3'.6(H)(2)(c)).of screening material. The remaining balance of open 37 area may be screened by metal worker lattice or any other non- masonry 38 screening material. A minimum of sixty (60) percent open area shall be 39 maintained. The graphic "Masonry Wall Types" includes an example of both an 40 unacceptable and acceptable prototypes. 41 42 43 44 Section 2. If any section, clause, sentence or phrase of this ordinance is held to 45 be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the holding 46 shall in no way affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. 47 48 49 Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be and the 1 (3)' 2 3 same are hereby repealed. 4 5 Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately at the time of its passage. 6 7 8 9 PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of ; 2005 10 11 ATTEST: APPROVED: 12 13 14 15 CITY CLERK MAYOR 16 17 15t Reading - 18 2nd Reading- 19 20 READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM: COMMISSION VOTE: 21 Mayor Russell: 22 Vice Mayor Palmer: 23 Commissioner Wiscombe: 24 Commissioner Birts - Cooper: 25 Commissioner Sherar: 26 CITY ATTORNEY 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 E: \Comm Items\2005 \8- 16- 05\LDC Fences Ord Commission.doc SOUS •. INC RATED • 1927 fiL ® R1Q CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI PLANNING BOARD Regular Meeting Action Summary Minutes Tuesday, May 10, 2005 City Commission Chambers 7 :30 P.M. EXCERPT I. Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Action: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. Action: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. II. Roll Call Action: Mr. Morton, Chairperson, requested a roll call. Board members present constituting a quorum: Mr. Morton, Ms. Yates, Mr. Liddy Mr. Illas, and Mr. Mann. Board members absent: Ms. Gibson and Mr. Comendeiro City staff, present: Don O'Donniley (Planning Director), Sanford A. Youkilis (Planning Consultant), Brian Edney (Video Support), and Patricia E. Lauderman (Planning Board Secretary). III. Planning Hoard Applications, / Public Hearings PD -04 -021 Applicant: City of South Miami AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 20 -3.6 (H) (2) (c) OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM 60 % OPEN AREA ON THE TOP TWO (2) FEET OF FENCES ADJACENT TO A RIGHT -OF Planning Board Meeting May 10, 2005 Page 2 of 3 WAY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Action: Mr. Illas read the item into the record. Mr. O'Donniley explained to the Board that the City Manager on behalf of a member of the City Commission has requested consideration of changing the one section of the regulations governing' the height of fences adjacent to rights -of -way. At present Section 20- 3.6(H) of the South Miami Land Development Code, provides that all fences, walls, gates and trellises are limited in height to six feet above grade, except where the fence is along a street in a side yard. A side yard fence or wall that faces a street can not exceed four feet in height. However, two additional feet maybe added if that two foot portion of the fence or wall is at least 60% open or can be seen through. Mr. O'Donniley provided the following staff's observations: (1) The proposed amendment is in response to the observation of several examples of six foot high wood fences with very unattractive upper two feet of lattice wood. (2) The above amendment as modified by the City Commission at its December meeting would allow all walls, "gates, and fences in side yards to be solid up to six feet above grade if they do not face streets. In addition front yards facing a street would remain limited to four feet but could increase to six feet if the extra two feet has a 60% open area. (3) The concept of requiring the top portion of a wall or fence visible from a street to be open (see through) is to prevent the appearance of walled in properties which would come from a solid material wall at 6 feet high. (4) There is also a safety (re: crime or fire) factor in that a partially open fence or wall would allow observation into and out of the property. (5) Staff is aware however that it is difficult to meet the current open area requirement of 60 %, which often requires the top two feet of a wall or fence to be specially constructed. It is important both visually and for safety reasons that some portion of a fence or wall be open. (6) An amendment to reduce the required open area of a wall or fence to 40 % is a compromise that staff supports. In addition information from the industry indicates pre- fabricated fencing with a 40% open area is readily available in stores.. At this time, Mr. O'Donniley presented the Board with Mr. Liddy's design options for six foot high wood fence and four foot wood fence. The Board and staff discussed the designs which included lattice work that could be used for the upper two feet of the fence. The Board was pleased with the graphics drawn by Mr. Liddy Planning Board Meeting May 10, 2005 Page 3 of 3 and suggested replacing staff's original recommendation with Mr. Liddy's proposal (exhibits /drawings). Staff agreed to adopt Mr. Liddy's proposal (exhibits /drawings) as staff's recommendation. The Board took a 5 minute 'recess so that citizens present at the meeting could analyze the exhibits. Motion: Ms. Yates moved to approve the ordinance with the amendments. Mr. Liddy seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes 5 flays 0 ZONING REGULATIONS 20 -3.6 portions between four (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. The graphic "Wooden. Fence Types" includes an example of both an unac- ceptable and acceptable prototype. Wooden Fence Types ACCEPTABLE; Sine wave pattem yields more than 60 percent open area • .. .... a. _4 ..... k y r, a s (max] Pre- fabricated lattice yields less then 60 preceat open area r?<a nx:. �,Y:: � {:u •.�; `k, :L:.w.• '.:u2 Jx:: w '•:.n .iF. • :: •.: :.K c}' r�} ;;y.. .>,•y, ..Xyr;. �L6;. �.. :;ki >' r�;; ?y }�.' yYu. J'r +' fy. }. ?,�,�y" �� ,;• ,•::: +. o �v .� >i$> "^+ ,�':' Vii. '•�:} i%`.'�'•', r' >? ' %-: ..F•j??: ' >.arr -,Z <` "•`t' ; }•`�}f?. M � ;Y� ;3ti, iii::• ,<.'U.'; • ^°i'C s`t�,•' r, ,<Grr, +�,•+•`^ >� •,:�y $y �:Y3� ttiv ;'•vc: i2T. :..•,c;• .�Ykv Yi.: 7o�. ,�.�ti �R +" ..i;, •?+xF2 •.� ;.: i" 2Y > : '•'`• .` =a i't a : x{j "• i2 +:tw.. 3 • �• • . L>, �z::' tinaX, .fir •�+?, vv} x < :% L}M1.'L :>... <}Ai• .Q? �. y." '., <t} Y+Qi} Wooden Fence Types (ii) Masonry walls exceeding four (4) feet in height along rights - of- -way shall provide a minimum of sixty (60) percent open area for all portions .._...._.. ...._. between four (4) and six (6) feet in height above grade. No portion of any solid masonry wall above four (4) feet in height above grade along rights -of -way shall exceed fourteen (14) inches in width. This is to provide for vertical support (per Section 20- 3.6(H)(2)(c)) of screening material. The remaining balance of open area may be screened by Supp. No. 7 55 20 -3.6 SOUTH MIAMI LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE metal work wooden lattice or any othernonmasonry screening mate- rial. A minimum of sixty (60) percent open area shall be maintained.' The graphic "Masonry Wall Types" includes an example of both an unacceptable and an acceptable prototype. Masonry Wall Types ACCEPTABLE: Vertical supports (columns) do not exceed 14 inches in width fill# ., ��„wrpu �.J{✓ ' rJF „+•6 •r``�G yR ' • A+.•<•rr•^>{ r'a ?a vN ,Rhx "3'r•• ypwSJ'£,'c'•` 1�an'�yt2a"a"�. V...aGJe;t� < r# �. a.> �c.•S�, Sy, . . . . . a� R . h.. .h <y .,•wu •ew,,:k0<,�,,'�••3•:c.¢L ��.; �::<;- Y3< �r„ c°• re:.�t:: +cvt'•o-a4�,Yia- �i,�•wa• xr•,$.x•1v;�2•'Lr"�.C.^ >tvt�rr,.• z}?uz?c: cX:. •et- .'�?�,• c -•'. ^'•J,v7+' µ s.` ^L„,,1;,,��.^',:. L.. •;•,.3°N,.N "t[� ra-'wT<>EcM:C'..`IM ,,c.. 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Ar�22 \<>a +y4t f6'{� >,�'•�A:�,:}: �(.f >a.'J�>i� f, �:L�2iia7i� ?t,+ \ "• `�,?w"�•>• • ,,,, yc22k Yeti w W.= p '�; o,>N 3..",t�,•%`� an r1 'sd•� � �t � - �•i ,•,Li' a�,2"< .,`�?` ,fir' :�J� "Y -S�•a w�:>�w., ::,.,,a�.•2,• ^`,�•.. ..,, < ! g .c, i,`a,. 33��j��•�•F, 0., nJ,��` =A?1; , ,t`, ':5 ;:`f'4L:iR;{`j�,: .'v`kd4`Fx`,�:<: �.�(Y,+�J<�,�`�: , �£ � t ;�. �Ci+i'• kr :. <32,t���a',`� ^. >'•+ •.> 1`..'fr. "+ �,io "'?.�'T ,J:S ;WAY. {,M:Z':,o-' , a ?` •' a; � •,,J. ' ,• .?..'j 'o. � tQ� ? `N?�,`'i.Ct�'C&7<cG^5�,5'•Yw,1� �,� ^':Y`'"_.. -. .a. • . ••: - 9< , ,"�y ,`�. ' • ray: •rn ` r ,, ,, Z of.`••23'. w" ` y >. » • w ., i y wJ• K ?„Z f: .Jb,_4 Y 'mil £ "a� .x- a <$ ,ZY; ^<"':1'>�,`:,YIk• -n �ia% ?i» "•n4 ?\r.::` ^^`2Y Yp S:. 1V '•ai{ �t.`.'•t�'•':tr:4 >•C1�•TP x •, •,'.?.'+ �•{ O�}r,`•a }'+"�Y<,;;•. :•tlP: ' i:... } >.. 's €` .J.. • +s:, „i22• aS^c. w :�"i 3> Fi2�� >{,":i<%'§o`�.Y.',,,.Y:::,, K`.•.�.: ?Y:�; '�..^`'u:` . , :a'T,+��?y�:�i0w;•°in`w'+'v: (iii) Trellises cannot exceed four (4) feet in height along rights -of -way. Freestanding trellises not located along property lines 'and not in- stalled to create a physical barrier may extend up to six ,(6) feet in height above grade in any required yard. Tree species included in the Official Tree List of the City of South Miami shall not be considered as physical barriers. Supp. No. 7 56 MIAMI DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW Published Daily except Saturday, Sunday and Legal Holidays Miami, Miami -Dade County, Florida STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MIAMI -DADE: Before the undersigned authority personally appeared O.V. FERBEYRE, who on oath says that he or she is the SUPERVISOR, Legal Notices of the Miami Daily Business Review f /k/a Miami Review, a daily (except Saturday, Sunday and Legal Holidays) newspaper, published at Miami in Miami -Dade County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement, being a Legal Advertisement of Notice in the matter of CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI PUBLIC HEARING 8/16/2005 in the XXXX Court, was published in said newspaper in the issues of 08/05/2005 - Affiant further says that the said Miami Daily Business Review is a newspaper published at Miami in said Miami -Dade County, Florida and that the said newspaper has heretofore been continuously published in said Miami -Dade County, Florida, each day (except Saturday, Sunday and Legal Holidays) and has been entered as second class mail matter at the post office in Miami in said Miami -Dade County, Florida, for a period of one year next preceding the first publication of the attached copy of advertisement; and affiant further says that he or she has neither paid nor promised any person, firm or corporation any discount; rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing thi dvertise r publication in the said newspaper. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 05 day of AUGUST A.D. 2005 (SEAL) O.V. FERBEYRE personally known to me 4 D Cheryl H MMa q My C®mmission DD ow me Expires July 18, 2W8