By Andrew de Souza

Councillors nix higher fences on busy roads

Aug 9, 2011 | 6:43 AM

A proposed amendment to the city’s fence bylaw that would have allowed higher backyard fences for homes along the city’s busiest streets died on the council chamber floors on Monday.

The initial idea was to allow for higher fences on for homes backing onto Marquis Drive and a portion of 28th Street East. Residents had complained to city councillors that as traffic increased along those streets, so did the noise and the invasion of privacy.

“These are major arterials and one of the reasons for identifying these particular roads is because … they are the only roads that have residential properties that back onto the arterials,” said Coun. Martin Ring, who proposed the bylaw amendment in the first place.

At the beginning of the debate, councillors, including Ring wanted not only to pass the amendment, but possibly add other streets, including 15th Street and Second Avenue West.

However, before it could be voted on, councillors who were against the idea voiced their concerns.

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“I don’t really think that a higher fence is going to suppress the noise,” said Coun. Cheryl Ring.

She said it had been allowed in Saskatoon, but only because those areas had substantially more traffic and Marquis Road, or any street in the city, would ever come near that type of traffic.

“I don’t think this will solve our problems,” she said.

It the end, a majority of councillors voted against the height proposal.

adesouza@panow.com