FENCES & HEDGES & WALK STREETS
Submitted by stevebrown on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 2:18pm.
It appeared as if most of the people supporting the lower fence limit were from the interior walk streets. Perhaps the height of fences and hedges is a problem there. But it certainly does not feel to be a problem anywhere else in the city. I know the Council took note of the prevailing attitude at the meeting last night. I sincerely hope they back off.
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If we are going to concern ourselves with safety...
I think that people have a right to feel safe in their yards and homes - so if they think a higher fence will help, so be it. The risk of a high fence creating a security concern is really something the homeowner takes on when deciding to put up a high fence. It seems to me that a high fence and a locked gate does not pose any more of an access problem to the police than a regular locked house does. Police kick in locked doors in an emergency and they can do the same do a locked gate. And firefighters have ladders, don't they?
Rather than get all in a huff about the height of fences - if we are so concerned about safety in our neighborhood, maybe we can focus on the lack of street lights and the overgrowth of plants that block the sidewalk? I am more afraid of getting mugged walking my dog at night than having someone jump over my fence. Some of those plants and overgrown hedges provide a great place for a person to hide - especially when the street is dark to begin with. And no matter what height someone's fence is - a dark street provides good cover for criminals.
There are a few spots on my street where I actually have to walk ON the street to get around people's plants - that isn't safe either. I know people walk with their kids too and they have to do the same thing.
If we cut back all the excessive growth and put a light in the middle of the block, maybe the fence height won't seem to be such an issue.
~keri~
do not support restricting heigh of fence
I am a strong advocate for letting people have the fence height they believe will keep them safe. My mother has already been ripped off in 2002 when she had a 3'6'" picket fence and we built fence up to 4 - 5 feet and now since then - no thiefts have climbed over the fence. Fences not only make better neighbors but a safer house. I myself have chased 3 men out of my yard on Crescent Pl who have climbed over. This terrifies me. It would make it much harder for them to climb over if my fence was 5 feet. No one has ever broken in via the alley because I have a 6 ft fence back there - only the front. I think the fences should be good looking but if I want to keep my dogs safe and my home safe and children then I want a higher fence and I should be allowed to protect myself.
I work in the entertainment industry and all security services ( Gavin Debecker) says higher fences are safer... I hope that Venice will allow people to protect themselves democratically. I spent many years being able to make money to afford to live in Venice and now with all the growing poverty and the recession and the jobless- I am very scared and should be with these three guys I have chased from my property. America is for the free and we should be allowed to protect ourselves against those who don't care about human life. I will fight this for all it 's worth and I know my mom will too as well as my co-owner and several neighbors I have spoken too. What is more offensice a nice 5 foot fence? or a raped and killed neighbor, a stolen child, or a stolen dog?
Gigi Gaston
re: FENCES & HEDGES & WALK STREETS
Our block by the beach is comprised of nine apartment/condo buildings and only two single family homes. Considering the scale of the buildings, including a 23-unit four-story building that is built literally right up to the sidewalk, it's hard to argue that lower fences would have any meaningful impact on physical openness in my immediate neighborhood. No cookie cutter plan should be imposed on the entire Venice community.