Just because a 6' fence would be accepted by the city verses a 4' fence does not mean everyone will go out and put up fences around their front yards. If that were the case, everyone would have 4' fences now because the city already allows 4' fences. To the TWO idiots that showed up to speak out against 6' fences, you were the only TWO in all of PTC, and it was because you both live in Davids neighborhood and oppose everything that he says. Nothing more than Vindictive Jealousy that keeps you awake at night. Who, in a neighborhood with homes valued at $500k to over a Million would put up a silly 4' fence. The city had already agreed that the 4' restriction was outdated and needed to be updated. If you call any fence company you will find that they don't sell 4' foot fences, that everyone prefers 5' or 6'. Citizen_Steve obviouly has a motivation to speak out against David by his tacky comment left about the lion. David's reason that he might give for changing the outdated restriction is not everyone else's in the city, it's just his opinion.

There is a reason that Peachtree City has restrictive regulations around such things as curb setoffs, fence heights, RV parking, signage, and a host of other restrictions. The reason would be that the city is trying to create an "atmosphere" or a "look" for its neighborhoods that speak of things such as liveability, curb appeal, etc. It is safe to say that a 6 foot fence that is allowed to be located closer to the property line on the front of a house will create an effect contrary to what the city plan and look dictates.
And, of course, not everyone would do this, but you cannot allow a variance without forseeing that the original regulation is no longer enforceable.
And this desire to create a fortress within PTC begs the question, "Why live here?". The charm of the city would be its interconnectedness, openness, and beauty.
Cree seems to be an agitator. He has an agenda that has little to do with fences. Go watch some birds and quit with this crap.
From the AJC "I very proudly placed my certificate on a large poplar tree down by the golf cart path so everyone could see it,” Cree said." He does not want people to see his front, only his certificate plaque

Just 2 houses north of Flat Creek on Peachtree Parkway, on the west side of the Parkway--

Observe the red brick home. What is in FRONT of the home???
An 7- 8 foot fence with a 9- 10 foot gate guarding and protecting the Nigerian Oil Minister/Prince who lives there.

Think he knows a little about safety and security also living in the turmoil of Nigeria???

He has those that high fence and gate surrounding his home to PROTECT himself and his family.

Is it tacky? No--- It is gorgeous. Has it devalued the homes along Peachtree Parkway ???

Don't be ridiculous.

What he had built around his home was what he deemed necessary and appropriate for his and his family's personal safety and security.

Do not judge another man for the level of security he deems necessary for his own personal protection. Every one of you in this forum with your critical spirits has assumed that posture. Telling another man what security measures are right for him. How presumptuous and arrogant of you!

Why don't you tell him what car he should drive or what lawn mower brand he should have? What religion he should practice----

I have several neighbors who escort their children each morning to meet the school bus.

Others allow their children to walk unescorted to meet the bus.

They do the same when the bus returns in the afternoon.

Some meet their children. Some do not. Does anyone have the right to criticize or judge the level of parental security each feels is appropriate for their child???

That is a decision left to each parent. EACH decides the safety and security they personally choose.

It is exactly the same with any security measure any respective household chooses.
Do we question if someone has 2 Doberman's in the yard for security? Do we question a Brink's Security system in the home? Do we question hiring a private security company to patrol our home IF we so choose?

It is the personal BUSINESS and CHOICE of the individuals living in a particular household and what makes them FEEL safe and secure. It is not the feelings or thoughts or opinions of others that govern the absolutely VERY PERSONAL choice of what measures one wishes to take to ensure their safety and security.

How DARE any of us impose our 'feelings' of what we 'feel' is right for someone else's security and peace of mind.

So, IF a homeowner wishes to erect a $50,000 wrought iron/brass fence with stucco/brick columns and a gate to boot------- and he wants it 6 feet tall to protect his property---
Why are being so anal retentive about it here?????

Charm is not the issue---the 4 foot fence ordinance is over 20 years old. Even David Rast , the City Planner agrees that many ordinances now on the books are outdated and antiquated and need to be re-visited. Even he believes this is one of them.

Some citizens of Peachtree City needs to grow up and realize that crime is on the increase and personal as well as public safety is of paramount importance.

The fences around the Mini Storage in PTC---04 feet? The fences around the Auto repair shops---4 feet?? Fences around the golf carts companies ---are they 4 feet??? Hardly?

I wonder why??? Could it be they would be useless to keep anyone out to rob or vandalize those businesses???? All of those business owners are intelligent enough to not erect a 4 foot fence---It won't keep anyone out---Nor will a 4 foot fence and gate in a residential neighborhood of Peachtree City keep anyone out either!!!!

The fences around the County Jail and our State Prisons are at least 15 feet high with BARBED WIRE on top---sometimes they have 2 or 3 parallel rows of fences.

Wonder why? ---Could be the HIGHER a fence is the more difficult it is to climb over.

To either keep people IN---or keep people OUT!!!

So, you have your interconnectedness, openness, beauty, atmosphere, yada, yada---and get your home invaded, or your valuables burglarized----

Not Me!

"How DARE any of us impose our 'feelings' of what we 'feel' is right for someone else's security and peace of mind"

It is called living in society and living in an incorporated area. City governments impose all kinds of things from grass length, to house colors, to signage. If you don't like what these big bad people who "impose" their feelings about things have done, then don't live in their town.

So code enforcement varies depending on the neighborhood? I thought you had to get special permission or a variance for any fence above 6ft. front or backyard?

Who do we pay under the table to be allowed a 7-8ft. fence? Is it code enforcement or the cops?

I don't need a fence in my front yard...due to my PERSONAL CHOICE FOR MY HOME SECURITY, I have armed missile silos. Hey, IT'S MY CHOICE AND YOU CANNOT QUESTION THAT! I am expecting an invasion any day from Tyrone residents who are sick of paying PTC prices for homes with no PTC amenities. The bonehead going into a lather about how great it is that Mr. Nigeria has a high fence in their front yard agrees too!

Why is there a fence ordinance and why is it enforced? Obviously it is there for a reason. If there isn't, then build the fence. If not, why does the ordinance exist? Instead of asking for variances, get the ordinacne changed. Most likely you need to vote for councilmen/women who are willing to do it. IF that happens, no problem. If not, then accept it. Equating commerical verus residential is comical. If you want that to be the case, get a variance and build your house on Dividend. This whole, not me, thing? what's up with that? Do you have a variance fence? If not, what is you point?

get his fence? As you say AFP, it is certainly taller than 4 feet and no doubt it is in his front yard and it has that "look how important I am" look about it, which Mr. Cree wants to emulate.

So Mr. Rast, did the Nigerian guy get a variance or what?

You just proved my point by making your comments about Mr Cree. (Cree seems to be an agitator)Your opinion is bias. If John Smart was the one that made the request, then no one from Smokerise would have showed up at the meeting in protest. You totally missed the point of the request. The city already allows 4' fences. 2 additional feet of fence does not destroy the wonderful PTC atmosphere. The city has already given numerous variances in regards to the fence height. Just drive around and count them. They are not fortress in nature at all. So it actually seems that you have an agenda to speak derogatory comments about Cree. The issue will go before the concil again, and we'll see what kind of derogatory comments go out to other good tax paying citizens that would enjoy the benefits of a 6' fence.

I have never met Cree. I have never driven through Smokerise. I don't particularly care. Here is where I see Cree as an agitator - ESPLOST nastiness in email form that was forwarded to me. Fayette Citizens for Open Government - a founding member and a co-filer of ethics complaints against the reefer head Horgan, this fence variance action that was most likely counter to the covenant that he signed when he acquired property in that subdivision (or not, don't know but assuming), petitioning against defined benefits for county employees, and filing a claim against Atlanta because of a downed tree that he struck.
My point is that someone that spends this much energy on local politics is doing so for a reason-agitation, whatever. His name is in the news on a somewhat regular basis.
Now this variance is specifically for a curb restriction reduction and a height increase for a front yard fence. I have driven around much of peachtree city (just not Smokerise) and I haven't seen any front yard fences of 6 foot height and close to the street. Are you sure that you are talking about front yard fences for private residences? Please don't quibble.
And you creating a login and slinging mud from the gitgo seems to be the pen of Cree himself or someone close. Dig in and lets go, I will sling mud with vigor.

Why did you come back and add (And you creating a login and slinging mud from the gitgo seems to be the pen of Cree himself or someone close. Dig in and lets go, I will sling mud with vigor.)to your comment. After reading what you wrote in the last response I thought maybe you had a valid point. But then the added two lines proved you're just looking to sling mud. Everyone can read exactly what I wrote. NO MUD SLINGING. And no, I not Cree.

There is no better deterent than two big dogs. Especially in Smokerise. A gun is no good when you house is so big that someone can sneak in and sneak out without waking you up.

All kidding aside, Matt, you are correct---- dogs are very good. The fence may send a message that perhaps there is something within worth stealing.

The three things that deter burglars the most are (1) security system (put sign out); (2) ample lighting; (3) dogs.

They just move on to the next house. I am willing to bet that each of the Smokerise burglaries are midday, in and out jobs with the expectation that no one was home.

in Atlanta and other areas and that is one of the reasons we all chose to live in Peachtree City. Do you in all honesty believe if an intruder is intent on getting on your property that 2 more feet of fence will keep him out? Here are a few suggestions that might work: How about a barbed wire fence that would hit anyone trying to scale it with an electric shock? Put several vicious pit bulls or other vicious dogs in your yard and feed them only once a week. Or simply do like others do--get an alarm system, sensor lights, etc. We do not want Peachtree City to turn into a city of 6, 8, or 10 foot fenced in front yards. Get a grip!!

According to FBI statistics Kennesaw, GA had fewer violent and non violent crimes in 2008 than they did in 1974. Most attribute this to the unique law that requires gun ownership in Kennesaw. Other interesting crime facts...statistically speaking, the presence of a fence around the entire property does reduce instances of larceny by 22% but a large dog reduces it by 54%, alarm systems 38%, and visible security cameras 71%. Keeping your car locked in your garage instead of the driveway reduces petty larceny from cars (the most widely reported theft in PTC) by 91%. Bottom line...you can build the great wall of China around your house but a much smaller investment in simple security measures and a lot of common sense will keep you safer.