Bloom said the city received six separate comments on the UDC following a Dec. 18, 2024 media release, and staff were reviewing whether to present an amendment to council on metal fencing. He said the department recently amended the code to ban metal fences in residential areas based on public comment and that exceptions are still possible through the Board of Adjustment process.
The discussion focused on visual examples of corrugated iron panels and higher quality decorative metal fencing. Seth Lloyd, Planning and Development Department, told council, “These fencing regulations only apply to certain zoning districts,” noting that decorative iron or steel fences are not the goal of the ban; The employees focused on corrugated iron sheets.
Council members said they observed new metal fencing along East 15th Street near the railroad and depot parking lot and expressed concerns that the city appears to be applying the rules inconsistently. Councilor Seagrave asked for confirmation that traditional wrought iron style fencing would continue to be acceptable; Lloyd replied that was correct.
Bloom said staff concluded a change was “probably not necessary at this point,” but asked the council for comment. Council members also asked staff to review the Board of Adjustment's conditional use application fee. Bloom reported that the current fee is $825 and said the department may consider scaling that fee for small requests such as a fence.
The work session produced neither a formal motion nor a vote. Staff said they would not include a fence change in the immediate work plan but would follow up on the conditional use fee and provide additional information to council upon request.