Zoning Board Approves High Fence for Little Dog

The granted a variance to a homeowner Wednesday night allowing him to put up a fence to hold in his five-month-old yellow lab, Kali.

Darrin McCarty, of 6187 Palomino Dr., needed the variance because he wanted to erect a 54-inch-high fence instead of the standard 48 inches.

The zoning ordinance, said Zoning Officer, Al Geosits allows for various heights, though that depends on how close to the road the fence sits. A four-foot fence wouldn’t have been an issue, but 4.5 feet required a variance.

McCarty said he wanted a little extra protection to keep his puppy behind the fence, plus he may eventually put a pool in the yard, where a 54-inch fence is often recommended.

A few neighbors present at the meeting asked to see the plans for the fence, a black, aluminum fence that will wrap around the back of the house. Neither objected to the fence itself, but one neighbor objected to the extra height.

The purpose of a zoning ordinance that defines fence heights is to make sure they don’t completely obstruct the view in or out. It’s part of the international construction code that the Township adopted, Geosits said.

The vote was 4-1, with board member Robert Rabe voting against the variance.