| Author |
Message |
    
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 69
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 10:39 pm: | 
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South Orange ordinance plainly states fence on street side of property cannot be higher than 42". I am considering a New England Scalloped fence that slopes downward toward the middle of teh span and up at either side of the span. The span is stocked and/or comes in 46"-48" height. 42" would be a special order available through slightly more expensive retailers (ie, not Home Depot), If I were to install a fence that is 46" at its highest point, do you think the town snitch would come by with a tape measure in the dark of night and force me to remove my new fence? Let me put it another way: do i save a few bucks and get instant gratification at Home Depot or do I spend the extra money and wait a few weeks for the right thing? |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 435
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 10:46 pm: |
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perhaps he will come for the inspection after the fence is up. & then have you make the appropriate adjustment. Don't forget your permit.
oots |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 70
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 11:02 pm: |
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already got approval. Now I'm out shopping and getting frustrated by the relatively insane cost for what I'm trying to do and the wait. By the time the fence is actually installed, it will have to come down for the renovation. Love home ownership I tell ya. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 326
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 7:33 am: |
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Ibeme, I always believe that it is best to get exactly what you want so that you have no regrets in the future. (Do husbands come under that category?) |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12137
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 8:42 am: |
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Try regular lumber yards such as Jaeger, Congden, etc. They may stock 42 inch fencing.
I imagine that the building department will be around to check the fence once it is put up, since you have already talked to them about this and I don't think they would turn a blind eye. |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 71
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 9:35 am: |
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Sherri,
I tend to agree with you. My need for instant gratification is getting in the way of my vision for the future. Bob, good idea to check in with Jaeger and Congden. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8344
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
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If you have a permit and SO is like Maplewood (and my SO friends tell me that they are worse) you will be wasting your money. You have the permit, they will inspect. Why not just check with them? |
Soparents
Supporter
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 2054
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:22 am: |
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greenetree is right, better safe than sorry (and poorer to boot)
Ask them exactly what you want to know. Tell them that the fence dips in the middle etc. If they agree with you, get it in writing!!!
Good luck |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12140
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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Also try GM fence on Route 10 between the Home Despot and Costco. |
blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 663
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:32 am: |
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A-Able Fence Builders in West Orange. Definitely talk to the building department and show them the fence stlye when you're going for the permit. |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 72
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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I already have the permit. GM was my first stop yesterday. They seem to be more expensive than others I've spoken with. I have a call into Tim at AAA Fence in West Orange and am waiting to hear back on pricing. |
Soki
Citizen
Username: Soki
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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Ibeme,
Where did you find the SO fence ordinance? I have not been able to locate it but need to clarify some questions re: corner properties.
Thanks |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1563
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:56 pm: |
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42 inches seems like a strange number - I thought the standard fence was 4 feet (48 inches). |
argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 851
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 2:01 pm: |
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If you have questions re: fence ordinance, whatever you do, don't take two minutes and call Sal Renda at (973)378-7715 ext.7706 to get the actual answer. The good folks here are far better at interpretive fencing.
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Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 73
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 5:10 pm: |
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Soki, to answer your question: I called town hall and asked for Patty in zoning. Anyone in the department can help, but I have found Patty to be as knowledgable as Sal and more accessible, as I have called Sal and gotten voicemail on a couple of occasions. I've had enough experience with various organizations that I know well enough not to leave voicemail and actually expect a call back.
42" is strange. There is a corner property diagonally across the street from me that has a large, and rather ugly, chain link fence that must be close to 6' tall. Sal simply said, "I don't know where how that came to be there or when" (ie, it may have been installed before the ordinance was in effect). My neighbors on either side of me have fences that are 48" tall (if not higher), but they are technically in their rear yards although both are highly visible from the street through my yard. They both happen to be terribly hideous chain link fences that have not been maitained in the slightest over the years. I plan on planting some Arborvitaes along both chain link spans to mask them.
While I understand that the line has to be drawn somewhere with regard to fence height, I find 42" to be inconvenient to say the least. The other part of the ordinance that is interesting (and a good thing IMO) is the fact that the portion of the fence that is on the street has to be 2" spaced picket. I was planning a picket fence anyway. |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1390
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 9:39 pm: |
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I put up a four foot fence last year and was worried that someone would make me tear it down. Our yard is sunken so that it is less than 42 inches from street level, but 48 inches from the ground where it was installed. I was all geared up to point this out, but no one from the town ever stopped by that I know about.
J.B. |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 79
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 9:51 pm: |
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Is yours a corner lot? Does one side face the street? Truthfully, if I had it to do over again, I would probably just install the 48" fence and not involved the town. Now that I have made four calls and two trips to town hall, they will be looking out for my new fence and I fully expect a surprise visit. My house is very visible to all in town. |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1398
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:32 pm: |
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Corner lot. One side faces the street. Of course because of the rules the fence is only on the side of the house that isn't "the front." That is the side where the street is higher than my lawn where the fence was installed.
Ibeme, I was just as paranoid. Actually, my neighbors' were having something more significant done about the same time. A very officious guy walked past my house while I was out front. He said, "hello" on the way past, then walked back without addressing me. I was really mad that I didn't get to address the height from the ground vs. height from the street argument. I was assuming that I'd be receiving a letter telling me to take down my expensive fence.
Well, the unfriendly guy was NOT checking out my fence at all, he was signing off on my neighbors work. I think a tasteful fence that doesn't piss off any neighbors will go unnoticed. These town ordinances are activated only when there is an issue.
I spoke to my neighbors about where I installed gates, so the waste disposale guys could continue their waste disposal walk, and they could walk where they wanted and it's been fine.
J.B. |
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