Chapter 16.64 — FENCES, WALLS, TREES AND HEDGES[6 ]

• (a) Except in a residential district, no person shall erect, construct, or maintain a fence, wall, hedge or similar structure on that portion of the parcel which is bounded by the front lot line, the side lot lines and an imaginary line drawn parallel to and through the wall of the building which is closest to the front lot line without the prior written approval of the director of community development or his or her designee. Such approval shall not be required if such fence, wall, hedge or similar structure is included within a use permit, architectural control or other approval. The director shall grant or deny approval based on consideration of the following factors:

  • (1) Structural stability;

  • (2) Aesthetics;

  • (3) General health, safety and welfare of the community;

  • (4) Clear lines of sight for vehicular and pedestrian traffic or other safety factor.

• (b) The decision of the director shall be final unless appealed to the planning commission within fifteen (15) days after mailing the notice of the decision. Each appeal shall be accompanied by a fee set by the City Council. The appeal shall be set for public hearing before the planning commission.

• (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

• (a) The maximum height of fences, walls, hedges or similar structures shall not exceed four feet (4') in the required front setback. Otherwise the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure shall not exceed seven feet (7') in height. Height shall be measured from the finished grade at the location of the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure. If the finished grade varies on the two (2) sides of the fence, the height shall be measured from the lower of the two finished grades.

• (b) The maximum height of fences, walls, hedges, or similar structures on corner lots shall not exceed three feet (3') within the triangular area bounded on two (2) sides by the right-ofway lines of the intersecting streets and the third side by a line joining points on the rightof-way lines at a distance of thirty-five feet (35') from their point of intersection. Height shall be measured from the lowest edges of the constructed roadways or shoulders.

• (c) With the exception of residential properties fronting Santa Cruz Avenue, the height of fences, walls, hedges or similar structures in excess of the limitations stated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be allowed upon obtaining a use permit in accordance with the procedures and standards of Chapter 16.82. Heights in excess of these limitations for residential properties fronting Santa Cruz Avenue may be allowed in accordance with the provisions and standards of Section 16.64.030.

6. Prior history: Prior code Sections 10.1 through 10.10 as amended by Ords. 520, 553 and 786, and Ord. 666.

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City of Menlo Park, CA

ZONING

§ 16.64.020

§ 16.64.035

(Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Heights for fences, walls, hedges or similar structures as stated in Section 16.64.020(a) and (b) may be exceeded for residential properties fronting on Santa Cruz Avenue in accordance with the following procedures:

• (1) Requests for exceeding height limitations shall be made in writing by the owner of the property, lessee, purchaser in escrow or optionee with the consent of the owners, on a form prescribed by the city. The application shall be accompanied by a fee, set by the city council, and plans showing the details of the proposed fence, wall, hedge or similar structure.

• (2) Upon receipt of an application, a notice shall be mailed ten (10) days prior to action being taken on the application to all property owners and residents within three hundred feet (300') of the exterior boundary of the property involved, using for this purpose the last known name and address of such owners as shown upon the current assessment roll of the city. The notice shall include a copy of the proposed plans, the pending date of action, and the appeal procedure.

• (3) The chief planner or designee shall review all applications for compliance with design criteria as specified in Section 16.64.035 for safety considerations and with consideration of all comments received from the public. If the proposed fence, wall, hedge or similar structure is in compliance with the design criteria, does not create a safety hazard, and there are no substantial objections from the public, the application may be deemed approved. If the fence does not conform with the design criteria, creates a safety hazard, or there are substantial public objections, the application may be conditionally approved, denied or forwarded to the planning commission through the use permit process in accordance with the procedures and standards of Chapter 16.82.

• (4) All administrative decisions of the chief planner or designee shall be reported in writing to the planning commission and City Council and made available to the general public.

• (5) Any person may appeal a decision of the chief planner or designee to the planning commission. The appeal shall be made in writing and filed with the chief planner within fifteen (15) days following the final decision of the chief planner or designee. The appeal shall be accompanied by a fee, as set by the City Council, and shall clearly state the reason for the appeal. Upon receipt of an appeal, the chief planner shall set a time, which insofar as practicable shall be within forty-five (45) days after receipt of such appeal, for a public hearing on such appeal. Any person may appeal any order, requirement, decision or determination of the planning commission to the City Council in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.86.

• (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

All requests for fences exceeding the height limitations as stated in Section 16.64.020(a) and (b) for residential properties fronting on Santa Cruz Avenue shall adhere to the following design criteria:

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City of Menlo Park, CA

MENLO PARK CODE

§ 16.64.035

§ 16.64.060

• (1) Materials. Fence and wall materials and colors shall be compatible with the streetscape and surrounding environment. Use of chain link and barbed wire fencing shall be prohibited.

• (2) Height and Setbacks. The maximum height of the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure shall be determined by the setback distance between the front property line and the location of the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure. The maximum height of a fence, wall, hedge or similar structure with a front setback of less than two feet (2') shall be four feet (4'). The maximum height of a fence, wall, hedge or similar structure with a front setback of two feet (2'), but less than six feet (6'), shall be five feet (5'). Beginning with a six foot (6') front setback, the maximum height of the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure shall increase on an even gradient from a maximum of six feet (6')in height at foot front setback to seven feet (7') in height at a twenty foot (20') front setback. Decorative columns or posts may be allowed to exceed the height of the primary portion of the fence.

• (3) Landscaped Area. All areas located between the front property line and fence, wall, hedge or similar structure shall be required to be irrigated and landscaped. If drought tolerant landscape material is used, irrigation will not be required.

• (4) Design Variation. All proposals for fences, walls, hedges and similar structures in excess of four feet (4') in height shall incorporate design variation for a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the length of the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure. Design variations may include changes in height and/or the depth of setbacks for a portion of the length of the fence. The intent of the requirement for variation is to create visual interest.

• (5) Entryway Identification. All entryways onto the property, including, but not limited to front doors and driveways, shall be identified by gateways, openings in the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure or by other architectural features.

• (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

All trees, shrubs and hedges located within the triangular area described in Section 16.64.020(b) and within the public right-of-way, shall be so trimmed that they will not materially restrict the line of sight of drivers approaching the intersection. (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or of this title as such relates to hedges, shrubs or trees (except as it may relate to "street corners") shall be presumed to be a private nuisance unless the City Council determines that such violation is one which affects at the same time an entire community or neighborhood or any considerable number of persons, in which case the City Council may declare it to be a public nuisance and cause the same to be abated by the persons and in the manner authorized by this code or other ordinances of the city. (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Any owner or occupant of a building, lot or premises shall keep trees, hedges and other growth on said premises properly trimmed in such a manner that the same shall not interfere with the free use of sidewalks, sidewalk areas and roadways.

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City of Menlo Park, CA

ZONING

§ 16.64.060

§ 16.64.110

(Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Whenever the owner or occupant of a building, lot or premises in the city fails to remove or to trim the trees, growth or hedges as herein before provided, the city manager may give written notice of such failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the owner, if known, or to the occupant if there be any or, if the owner is not known and there is no occupant, to post such notice conspicuously on the property. The notice shall briefly describe the work to be done, shall refer to this chapter and shall contain a notification that unless the work shall be done within ten (10) days after the service or posting of the notice, the city manager will cause such work to be done and that the costs and expenses thereof will be charged and made a lien against the property.

(Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

If the work provided for by Section 16.64.070 is not done within ten (10) days after the services or posting of the notice the city manager shall be authorized to do work and put the property in the condition required by this chapter.

(Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

As soon as the work provided for by Sections 16.64.070 and 16.64.080 is completed, the city manager shall render a statement showing the cost thereof and the property charged and thereafter deliver the same to the tax collector and thereafter the amount shall be a lien against the property, and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as other city taxes. (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Any owner or occupant of a building, lot or premises shall remove any dead, diseased, infested or dying tree located on any private property so near to any street as to constitute a danger to street trees, streets, or portions thereof or persons using said streets. (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

Trees, shrubs or bushes shall not be permitted to grow outside of the solar envelope of the parcel on which they are planted. Such trees, shrubs or bushes growing beyond the solar envelope as of the effective date of this section shall be excluded from the operation of this section. (Ord. 906 § 1 (part), 2001)

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City of Menlo Park, CA