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District. As such, the primary changes proposed for this section of the Zoning Code are to provide <br />additional guidelines for fence and wall materials, as well as limitations on fence height. Fence <br />heights in the RS-VP District are recommended to be limited to 3 feet above finished grade, with <br />the portion of the fence from three (3) to seven (7) feet limited to a transparent material, such as <br />glass or welded wire, to allow for continued enjoyment of the view. <br />Since the November $, 2007 Work Session with the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning <br />Adjustments, staff has refined the proposed zoning code amendment language, specifically <br />pertaining to Fences, Walls & Hedges in the RS-VP District to include additional items. Staff <br />consulted with other jurisdictions to determine how they handle visually-transparent fences, <br />known as "view fences." A comparative analysis of four other cities in the Bay Area and their <br />fence regulations, as compared to San Leandro, is provided in Exhibit A. Primarily, what staff <br />found was that while many ordinances discuss a variety of options to choose from only one <br />jurisdiction studied set forth a minimum number to determine how to achieve "visual <br />transparency." For example, the City of Cupertino requires "open fencing (composed of <br />materials which result in a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent visual transparency." Most <br />other jurisdictions simply specify that fences or walls should be "visually permeable" but do not <br />specify a numeric standard. <br />The City of Livermore provided the most specific details on a "view fence." Livermore requires <br />that 4 inch by 4 inch posts be provided, 8 feet on center, with 2 feet in ground and a welded wire <br />that has a minimum opening of 2 inches x 4 inches. A graphic of a typical "view fence" has been <br />provided in Exhibit B, and a photograph of a typical view fence is provided in Exhibit C. <br />Consideration of additional types of transparent fencing materials, including welded wire, wire <br />mesh and decorative iron were also discussed at the November 8, 2007 worksession. Additional <br />comments concerned allowing the use of plastic and plexi-glass, due to their propensity to lose <br />their transparency over time. The Commission and Board were also concerned about language <br />being inserted relating to the need to maintain fences in good repair. One interested member of <br />the public requested that the Board and Commission consider that the only allowable transparent <br />fencing material in the RS-VP District be glass. <br />Specific changes to the proposed zoning code amendments, as discussed at the November 8, <br />2007 Joint worksession, are summarized below: <br />- Allow additional types of transparent fence materials fora "view fence" including welded <br />wire (this was added to the zoning code amendment); <br />- Include specific dimensions and gauges for fence materials to ensure transparency (a <br />minimum visual transparency requirement has been added); <br />- Remove plastic and plexi-glass as an allowable fence material due to their propensity to <br />became cloudy and lose their transparency over time (these materials were removed from <br />the language). <br />- Insert additional language relating to the need to maintain fences in good repair (this has <br />been added) <br />Planning Commission Staff Report December 13, 2007 <br />Zoning Code Amendments Page 3 of 6 <br />