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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Jonathan<br>
<br>
Thank you for your long-winded response. But you failed to answer
the most important question, <br>
<br>
Who introduced ordinance 2014-OR-01 and why is this change
necessary for the public need/safety.<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 1/31/2014 12:11 PM, Jonathan Ebbeler wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">All –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would like to address and correct the
inaccuracies in Mr. Wilson’s post as well as the ordinance in
general. My apologies in advanced for this being long-winded.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is not a current ban on chain link
fences, only a prohibition of front-yard chain link. To this
point, a chain link fence for the side and rear was approved
in Ward 3 within the last six months. The application that
Mr. Wilson spoke of was a commercial, not a residential
application, that is surrounded by commercial properties that
are prohibited from erecting a 6-foot chain link fence desired
by the applicant. The property in question is one of the only
properties in the entire Route 1 corridor in Riverdale Park
that the M-U-TC zoning was not extended to. The zoning the
building had however required a variance in their zoning –
i.e. what was proposed is not guaranteed as a matter of
right. Chain-link is a prohibited material for the rest of
the commercial corridor and would not be a compatible
variance. Fences that are 3.5’ or less do not require Council
permission (there is pending legislation to change this to
4’), Mr. Wilson’s application required Council support due to
it being a commercial application, County-required variance
processing, and the fence height requested.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While it was true that I was not at the
worksession (out-of-state trip known well in advance and
excused by the Mayor), I was in attendance at the legislative
meeting the following week (where we actually vote on the
matter), the applicant made a decision not to show up to the
meeting to defend the application. At the worksession the
applicant informed the Council that he needed chain link due
to its melting point. The argument was later changed to a
safety/terrorism argument, which was then later changed to
what we all knew was the real argument - ‘cost.’ However,
even that was specious when it was pointed out to the
applicant that the cost differential was de minimis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Wilson is incorrect is stating that a
vote was tabled. Votes are not taken at worksession meetings
that the application was presented at; worksessions are
opportunities for Council to explore the question while
leaving a week to work out the objections and details prior to
the vote that occurs at a Legislative meeting. In the
following week, we attempted to negotiate with Mr. Wilson and
suggested many alternatives that Council found a satisfactory
compromise when the prior arguments of melting
point/safety/terrorism were pointed out to be suspect, but the
applicant steadfastly decided to take a chain-link only
approach and refused to budge. Mr. Wilson although not in
attendance at the Legislative meeting, should have been
informed that the application that approved the fence with
conditions was unanimous. Since Mr. Wilson neglected to
negotiate in good faith towards resolution of those conditions
and/or attend the meeting where those conditions could be
voted upon, the outcome was predictable. It is important to
point out that the Council did vote to support the
application, just not the 6 foot chain link fence desired.
Conditions were placed to use aluminum pickets instead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Mr. Wilson indicates, it was pointed out
during the initial discussions that existing chain link fences
although non-conforming are grandfathered in. This point came
about due to an early argument made by Mr. Wilson that he
drove around the neighborhood and saw many chain-link fences
ergo we should approve his application for a 6 foot chain link
fence. This ordinance does not in any way shape or form
change the grandfathering of fences. If you have a chain link
fence it does not need to come down; this ordinance only
prohibits future side and rear chain link fences from being
erected.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again, there is not an informal ban on
chain link as other applications have been approved at recent
meetings. They were split votes however and at those meetings
and on Mr. Wilson’s application the Mayor rightfully suggested
that the Council take a policy position on the matter. Chain
link in prior years was a preferred material due to cost and
longevity of material; that is no longer the case. Also, when
fences are erected they impact not just the property they are
on, but their immediate neighbors and the overall
neighborhood. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I realize there are those that will
disagree with me on this point and want individual land rights
to be absolute. I will boil down the crux of the ordinance to
one situation - imagine for a moment that the fence
surrounding the Riversdale Mansion was chain link vs. the
attractive black aluminum fence that exists today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For comparison an average fence of 100
linear feet with one gate and 4’ high has the following costs
from Home Depot:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chain Link: 535<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Round/Split Rail: 334-565<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vinyl:
566-1197 (depending on style)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Composite: 688-1593
(depending on style)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aluminum: 535<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wood Picket: 561<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As always, respectfully,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jonathan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jonathan Ebbeler<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Councilman – Ward 1, Town of Riverdale Park<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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