The Orange Historic Preservation Commission is ready to decide which side of the fence to land. The commission will meet on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss a fence in the Old Orange Historic District that the city considers illegal.
Christine Vermeulen Hanchey has an application on the agenda to receive a certificate of appropriateness for the fence at her house at 711 Eighth Street.
The 28-feet of wooden fence has already been built.
Hanchey said she considers the fence in the backyard, which fits into the city guidelines. She said the alley that runs east to west in the back of her house is the backyard.
But 28 feet of the wooden fence faces Eighth Street. The city considers Eighth Street the front yard of the house and wants the wooden fence down.
City ordinances forbid opaque fences in all front yards of the city, not just the Old Orange Historic District. Picket fences or iron fences of a certain height, which give a view of the front of the house, are allowed.
Hanchey said she understands the rule, but her wooden fence is not in the front of the house and her house is in view from the street. She said previously an old chain link fence covered by a hedge was in the spot. When the hedge died, she replaced the rusty, bent fence with a decorative wooden fence.
City Planning Director Kelvin Knauf said the Historic Preservation Commission is allowed to vote on an exception to the rule on fences.
When the commission met earlier in the year, not enough members attended to make a quorum. The commission has five members, but for the past few months, only three had been appointed. All three needed to attend a meeting.
The Orange City Council appoints citizens to serve on the commission. Members usually live within the boundaries of the Old Orange Historic District. Citizens apply for appointment.
Last month City Council appointed Curtis Jeanis to the commission, who becomes the fourth member. One position is still open. Applications are available through Orange City Hall.
The meeting Monday will be in the Community Room of the Neighborhood Facility Building, 303 Eighth Street.
One other item is on the agenda. Alan Mesecher, who owns a house at 704 10th Street, has applied for a certificate of appropriateness to re-paint his house and repair damaged wood.
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