[Added 5-8-1990 by Ord. No. 9-90]
B.
Fences, walls and hedges shall be permitted, in accordance with the
provisions defining and regulating same set forth in this chapter,
in any zone in Eagleswood Township.
C.
The design and materials of fences, walls and hedges shall be functional,
shall complement the character of the size and type of building with
which they are associated, and shall be suited to the nature of the
project. A combined scheme of fences, walls and hedges may be used
to achieve the design effect intended.
D.
Fences and walls, including all posts and support structures, shall
be constructed to withstand the conditions of normal wind loads and/or
other design and construction loads.
F.
Walls may be constructed out of brick, stone or other maintenance-free material, as defined in Article VII of this chapter.
G.
Installation. Fences, gates and walls shall be constructed plumb
and in accordance with current construction practices as recommended
by the manufacturer and the following:
(1)
Posts to be set in concrete shall be installed in dug or drilled
holes. Posts not requiring a concrete foundation may be driven to
the required depth if ground conditions permit, or they shall be installed
in holes dug or drilled as will allow sufficient room for proper backfilling.
If solid rock is encountered, any posts not required to be set in
concrete shall be installed by drilling the rock to the required depth
and grouting the post therein with grout composed of one part cement
and two parts sand.
(2)
Post holes for posts not requiring concrete foundations shall be
backfilled with suitable material. All backfilling shall be performed
in layers not exceeding four inches, and each layer shall be thoroughly
tamped. When backfilling and tamping is completed, the posts and anchors
shall be held securely in proper position.
(3)
Fence and wall materials which are damaged during construction operations
shall be disposed of and replaced with new materials of the same or
equivalent type.
H.
Hedges.
(1)
Hedges shall be composed of durable woody plants that make a thick,
intertangled or impenetrable growth, and that withstand shearing.
(2)
Both trees and shrubs may be used for hedges.
(3)
Hedges proper shall be distinguished from edgings, which are low
and sometimes temporary lines about walks, flower beds or borders.
(4)
Hedges shall be planted no closer than three feet to any property
line.
(5)
Hedges shall be neatly trimmed and maintained in an aesthetically
pleasing condition.
I.
No fence, wall or hedge shall be constructed, installed, erected
or planted within a sight triangle or sight distance area or so as
to constitute a hazard to traffic or safety.
J.
No fence, wall or hedge shall contain spikes, sharp objects, barbed
wire, razor ribbon, or any other similarly dangerous material which
may be hazardous to persons or animals.
K.
The following fences and walls and construction materials related
thereto are specifically prohibited in all districts in the Township
of Eagleswood: barbed wire, canvas, cloth, expandable and collapsible
fences, and slab fences of any type. The ban on barbed wire shall
not apply to fences or walls located on and necessary to the operation
of a farm or to barbed wire strands placed atop a security fence or
wall constructed between six feet and eight feet in height around
a conforming commercial or industrial use, provided that the fence
or wall conforms to all other standards and that no barbed wire be
permitted in the front yard of nonfarm uses.
M.
All fences and walls shall be erected a minimum of six inches from
all property lines of the lot on which same will be located.
N.
No fence, wall or hedge shall be constructed, erected or planted
so as to encroach upon any public or private right-of-way or easement.
O.
All supporting members of a fence shall be located on the inside
of the fence, and if erected along or adjacent to a property line,
the supporting members of the fence shall face the principal portion
of the tract of land of the property upon which the fence is erected.
The finished side of fences and walls shall face adjacent properties.
P.
The height of all fences, walls and hedges shall be measured from
the ground elevation or finished grade at the bottom point of the
fence, wall or hedge to the uppermost portion of the fence, wall or
hedge.
Q.
Fences and walls which are painted or stained shall be one harmonious
color throughout.
R.
Fences, walls and hedges shall be constructed, erected or planted
in a manner so as to permit the flow of natural drainage and shall
not cause surface water to be blocked, obstructed or dammed so as
to create ponding.
S.
Maintenance standards.
(1)
Every fence and wall shall be maintained in a structurally safe,
sound, upright and aesthetically pleasing condition.
(2)
If upon inspection any fence, wall or hedge or any portion thereof is not maintained in accordance with this section, or has been constructed, erected, reconstructed, planted or maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, contractor or other person or persons interested as lessee or tenant, or otherwise, shall be notified of the violation and instructed to abate the violation within five days after service of the notice. In the event of failure to comply with the aforesaid notice, the person notified shall be subject to the violations and penalties set forth in § 295-58 of this chapter.
T.
Height. Fences, walls and hedges hereafter erected, altered, reconstructed
or planted in any zoning district in the Township of Eagleswood shall
not exceed four feet in height above ground level when located in
an area within the front setback, as defined for the zoning district
in which the property is located, or shall not exceed six feet in
height above ground level when located in any side yard or rear yard,
except as follows:
[Amended 5-20-1999 by Ord. No. 5-99]
(1)
In the LB Zoning District, fences or walls not exceeding eight feet
in height may be erected or planted in the rear or side yard areas
and behind the front building line.
(2)
On public park, recreation or school properties, open wire fences
not exceeding eight feet in height may be erected, except that fences
enclosing outdoor tennis courts, baseball backstops and other fences
normally provided with recreation facilities may be open wire fences
not exceeding 12 feet in height, provided they are not located in
the required front yard.
(3)
On private properties, open wire fences not exceeding 12 feet in
height may enclose outdoor tennis courts, provided they are not located
in the required front yard.
(4)
Fences, walls and hedges specifically required by other provisions
of this chapter and other municipal and state regulations.
U.
Waterfront property. The fence, wall or hedge on a waterfront property
shall not exceed six feet in height. Any fence, wall or hedge placed
within 15 feet of the mean high-water line (on lots with no bulkhead)
or bulkhead shall not exceed four feet in height and must maintain
fifty-percent consistent density and/or opacity. A four-foot fence,
wall or hedge may be installed along the rear property line six inches
inside of the rear property or any property line adjacent to the mean
high-water line, provided said fence, wall or hedge meets the fifty-percent
density and/or opacity requirements.
[Amended 9-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09]
V.
A permit shall be required for the construction, erection or reconstruction
of all fences and walls and the planting of hedges. Said permit shall
be issued by the Eagleswood Township Zoning Officer.
[Amended 5-15-1997 by Ord. No. 8-97]
