Broadway 'triangle' investor seeking fence variance for property

Real estate investor Chris Tucker, who is heading the project to build five houses on the “triangle” island property at 902 Broadway Street, wants to get a fence variance to maximize the available yard space for the homes.

At the June 1 special issues committee meeting, Tucker presented his request to build fences that do not adhere to the standard setback requirements of the city. The fences would run along the property lines of Broadway Street and Carr Avenue, and they would extend partly into the right-of-way for Saulter Road in order to remain parallel with the sidewalk.

Tucker argued that the small property sizes would make residents’ yards tiny if he installed a fence with the normal setback. He also noted that the three-foot picket fences he had in mind would be aesthetically pleasing and would prevent children playing in the yard from running into the street.

Committee members were hesitant about the proposal because they have historically rejected front yard fence variance requests. Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright noted that changing the setbacks had “not been well-received in other neighborhoods.”

The fence variance will come before the full council in a public hearing on June 8.