GLENDALE TO ENFORCE BAN ON FRONT FENCES EQUESTRIAN AREA EXEMPT FROM 1922 MEASURE.Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer GLENDALE - The white picket fence - that symbol of middle-class suburbia - is about to become obsolete in Glendale. The City Council plans to begin enforcing a 79-year-old regulation that bans front-yard fences. Once the new policy is in place, Glendale would join only a handful of other cities - including Rolling Hills Rolling hills are like a mountain chain, only a "hill chain" of hills that roll on and on continually. You will often find them in between plains and mountains, near major rivers, or randomly anywhere. The only places without rolling hills are deserts and flood plains. on the Palos Verdes Palos Verdes is often used to refer to a group of coastal cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the Los Angeles/South Bay area of California. This affluent bedroom community is known for its dramatic views, good schools [1] extensive horse trails [2] Peninsula - in cracking down on those who erect a wooden, concrete or any other type of fence or wall in their front yards. ``People are just putting up fences willy-nilly,'' said Councilman Frank Quintero, who supports aggressive enforcement of the code, first adopted in 1922. During a City Council meeting Tuesday night, several residents spoke in favor of enforcing the code. Advocates say the lack of front-yard fences gives the city an open feel and also averts disputes over whether the fences cross property lines or intrude on Verb 1. intrude on - to intrude upon, infringe, encroach on, violate; "This new colleague invades my territory"; "The neighbors intrude on your privacy" encroach upon, obtrude upon, invade public rights of way. ``We have a time-tested ordinance that works,'' said Lawrence Kalfayan, a member of the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association. ``Glendale is unique in being (one of) a handful of communities that has this type of restriction. It promotes a unique, parklike scape.'' But opponents say they want a front-yard fence for privacy, to restrain a pet or to prevent pedestrians from walking on their lawns. Others, like Joanne Hedge, a five-year resident of the Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. equestrian equestrian a rider of horses. neighborhood, say they have built expensive split-rail and wooden fences to enhance the rural character of their homes. ``A fence is justified in our situation,'' Hedge said, adding that her property is adjacent to a public park where dog owners walk their pets and residents come to play. ``The fence encloses a very shallow front lawn. We have no public walkway walkway Rehabilitation medicine An instrument used to measure the timing of foot contact and or position of the foot on the ground .'' Heeding pleas by Hedge and other residents, the council indicated it would approve an ordinance exempting the Rancho area from the crackdown crack·down n. An act or example of forceful regulation, repression, or restraint: a crackdown on crime. Noun 1. . Although the ban has been on the books for decades, it has been enforced mostly on a complaint basis. Officials conducted a parcel-by-parcel survey in 1999, and found 1,579 illegal fences in the city. In October 1999, the council enacted a moratorium A suspension of activity or an authorized period of delay or waiting. A moratorium is sometimes agreed upon by the interested parties, or it may be authorized or imposed by operation of law. on the regulation because members couldn't reach a consensus on regulations governing front-yard fences and retaining walls. Since the moratorium has been in effect, homeowners have erected an additional 111 fences, officials said. Violating the city's fence code is considered a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $500 fine per count or day of violation. Hedge and other residents have complained about the lack of public education about the city ordinance, saying they were never told they couldn't fence in Verb 1. fence in - enclose with a fence; "we fenced in our yard" fence inclose, shut in, close in, enclose - surround completely; "Darkness enclosed him"; "They closed in the porch with a fence" 2. their front yards. They also complain about the $1,100 cost of obtaining a variance needed to erect a fence. City staffers are expected to present an enforcement plan in six weeks and introduce a draft ordinance exempting the Rancho area in August. The ordinance will first go through a public hearing by the Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle and ultimately return to the council for a vote. ``I think this council has the guts to actually stand up to the people who are just going to come out there and complain: I built it. It cost me all this money and I shouldn't have to take it down,'' said Councilman Bob Yousefian. ``We have taken a stand. We are going to uphold the code. We are going to enforce the code to improve ... how the city looks.'' |
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