Where Do We Go From Here?

Beginning back in February of 2011, we began a conversation about fence construction, placement, height, and the subsequent effects the current zoning had on public safety. Supervisor John Jenkins took the concerns of neighbors and residents into consideration and formed a task force to address those concerns and issues.

County staff met with representatives from four other supervisor’s offices, community leaders, county attorneys, a VDOT representative and the Zoning Administrator. The goal was not to create a new ordinance, but to “tweak” the existing ordinance to better define the language that is currently in use.

The task force completed the work by devising more specific language gauged to reflect the communities, particularly the RPC (Residential Planned Community) R-4 and R-6. A designation of R-4 or R-6 describes zoning as “Residential, 4 houses per acre and Residential, 6 houses per acre.”  Please keep in mind, if you do not live in one of the above, this will not affect you and you can stop reading now. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, the HOA rules will take precedence and you can stop reading now.

If you already have a fence, the fence police are not coming to visit you. Your fence will likely fall under the grandfather clause: if the fence was built before the ordinance was enacted, you will be exempt from and new regulation, unless the fence causes obvious obstruction to pedestrian and/or vehicular safety. So, you folks can stop reading now.

There are existing property codes that regulate the condition of the fence. Simply put, if you have a fence, it must be maintained. If there are boards missing, the fence is severely leaning, or has graffiti, you must make repairs.

A few of the salient points of the draft ZTA (zoning text amendment):

• Fences in back and side yards cannot exceed 6 feet without appropriate setback.
• Fences in front yards cannot exceed 42 inches in height and if it is a corner lot, the side yard fence cannot exceed 42 inches in height on the street side.
• Fences in front yards and corner lots (on the side facing the street) must not be opaque. That means picket fencing is all right, but privacy fencing is not.

Supervisor Jenkins asked the draft be considered as a zoning text amendment, so the next step will be advertisement to advise citizens of the proposed changes. This advertisement will give the date for public hearing.

I’m providing the documents with revisions for your review. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. If I do not know the answer, I will find it for you.

I encourage you to contact Supervisor Jenkins’ office with your comments. (703)792-4667

For a more detailed explanation, please read this excellent, easy to understand information provided by County Attorney, Angela Horan.