By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

While residents of a Fayetteville subdivision continue to look for ways around the city's ordinance banning fences in some of their back yards, Mike DeLisle of McIntosh Woods subdivision says he sees the issue from the other side of the fence.

“We're looking with concern,” DeLisle told City Council during its work session last week, speaking for the McIntosh Woods Homeowners' Association.

Residents of Stonebriar subdivision at Lester and Old Norton Roads have made several trips to City Hall seeking relief from an ordinance that prohibits privacy fences in front yards, and defines front yards to include those facing any street or road.

Several lots in Stonebriar face a subdivision street, Verdon Hills, but their back yards also are next to Lester or Old Norton. According to city law, their back yards are front yards.

The result creates a safety hazard, residents have argued, because there's no fence to separate traffic from their children's play areas.

At City Council's suggestion, neighbors are working to come up with covenants that can be enforced by the homeowners' association to assure that fences will be uniform in appearance, will be maintained and will have a buffer of vegetation so they can't be seen as much from the road.

In two subdivisions next to his, DeLisle said, fences on similar “double frontage” lots were built years ago and are now beginning to age and become eyesores. “It looks very poor,” he said.

He agreed with the city's plan to require a landscaped buffer in Stonebriar, but added that the city should make that requirement part of its regulations.

“It ought to be done when the developer comes in with the plat,” he said, “not left to the homeowners' association.”

“That's good input,” said Mayor Mike Wheat. City officials will continue to ponder the issue, he promised.