HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Grubb - fencing ordinance.pdf August 8, 2011
Sally Grubb
Sally.grubb@gmail.com
The latest version of the Fencing Ordinance which I believe you are going to discuss
tonight is worse than a slap in the face.
After all that so many people have done to draft a reasonable new ordinance all you can
do is this.
The intent of this Local Law is to provide Village residents greater flexibility in their
decisions concerning fences, landscaping and design, and, specifically to protect the
health, safety, and welfare of Village residents and their property from injury and
damage due to deer population growth within the Village.
It does quite the opposite.
If people who have smaller yards, like perimeter plantings and to use all the land they
own, are forced to comply with these proposals, you will provide havens for the Village
deer.
Many of you want to preserve the Village the way it is with open vistas and beautiful
landscapes — gardens such as mine which have been here since before the majority of
you moved to the Village. Many of the yards you admire so much will become open to
deer browsing and be destroyed. Fences protect the Village you admire they do not
destroy it.
If I comply with this law I will no longer be able to talk to my neighbors over the fence
nor talk with passing villagers, because I will be forced to stockade myself behind a
fence on the set back lines.
This proposal in no way protects the health, safety and welfare of village residents.
Rather it just raises my�lood pressure to a dangerous level.
Instead of discussing this proposal further you should go to the NY State Planning
Federation and ask for free training for municipalities on planning and zoning.
Pagel of 3
Mary Mills
From: sally grubb [sally.grubb@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 10:34 PM
To: Kate Supron; Mary Mills; Diana Riesman; Beatrice Szekely; Stephen Hamilton, Robert Andolina;
Christopher Crocker, Elizabeth Karns; Beatrice Szekely
Cc: elizabeth mount
Subject: Privilege of the Floor and Fencing Ordinance
August 8, 2011
Following is the statement I read out at tonight's meeting. I am sorry I failed to print
enough copies to give you at the meeting. However this does allow me to add a few
brief comments at the end of my statement.
"The latest version of the Fencing Ordinance which I believe you are going to discuss tonight is
worse than a slap in the face.
After all that so many people have done to draft a reasonable new ordinance all you can do is
this.
The intent of this Local Law is to provide Village residents greater flexibility in their decisions
concerning fences, landscaping and design, and, specifically to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of Village residents and their property from injury and damage due to deer population
growth within the Village.
It does quite the opposite.
If people who have smaller yards and like perimeter plantings and to use all the land they own,
are forced to comply with these proposals, you will provide havens for the Village deer.
Many of you want to preserve the Village the way it is with open vistas and beautiful landscapes
—gardens such as mine which have been here since before the majority of you moved to the
Village. Many of the yards you admire so much will become open to deer browsing and be
08/09/2011
Page 2 of 3
destroyed. Fences protect the Village you admire they do not destroy it.
If I comply with this law I will no longer be able to talk to my neighbors over the fence, nor talk with
passing villagers,because I will be forced to stockade myself behind a fence on the set back lines.
This proposal in no way protects the health, safety and welfare of village residents. Rather it just raises
my blood pressure to a dangerous level.
Instead of discussing this proposal further you should go to the NY State Planning Federation and ask
for free training for municipalities on planning and zoning."
Following tonight's meeting I would like to add my thanks to Bea and Steve for continuing to
support sensible protection of our properties. I would also like to thank you Kate for attempting
to find a solution to suit everyone. Personally I find it difficult to understand why anyone should
object to fencing they can't see. A four foot high permanent fence that is not made of chain
link fencing, extended to 8ft by 90% open deer fencing could be the solution. You require a
permit be issued to ensure the extension is sufficiently open and mounted on the inside of the
fence and not on the outside. The fencing material above 4ft could be almost invisible.
However, the NY State Planning Federation provides free training for municipalities on issues
such as ordinances. I understand that it is really the Comprehensive Plan should address
Fencing. The Village could ask for comments on the validity of our current law and whether
our zoning ordinance does in fact address the issue of health, safety and public welfare.
Scott Chatfield an Attorney in the Syracuse Area is someone we could approach for this
training. He can be contacted at Scottchatieldo_live.com.
It would be a pity if this new ordinance is deemed arbitrary and capricious just because it
makes it impossible to protect our properties fully from the deer. Have you ever considered
how large a percentage of a property is contained within the set back zone? For small
properties it could be as much as half the property. Are you seriously considering denying
Villagers the right to full use of half their property?
I look forward to receiving a copy of the next draft of this ordinance.
Sally
08/09/2011
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Sally Grubb
104 Midway Road
Ithaca,NY 14850
607 257-6017
08/09/2011