Lakeshore Fence Law Passes Geneseo Town Board 4 to 1

GENESEO – The Geneseo Town Board passed a law at their Thursday night meeting that limits the type and size of fencing allowed on lakeshore properties.

Town Supervisor William Wadsworth said that after reviewing comments that were submitted at a public hearing on June 11, there was no substantial reason not to move forward with the law, though Deputy Town Supervisor Roberta Irwin did vote against the new law.

“The letter submitted at our public hearing had no substantive issues that would prevent us from moving forward,” said Wadsworth.

The law says that any fence on a lakeshore property must have the decorative side facing the neighboring property, be under 4 feet high from the structure to the water, be under 6 feet in side yards, and be comprised of materials which make the fence 60% see-through as viewed from an angle of 90°.

Other parts of the new regulations say that a fence adjacent to driveways which intersect public highways or private right-of-ways, intersections of public highways or private right of ways cannot obstruct the view of drivers on or entering these roads.

All fences shall be made only of wood, chain link, stone, rock, brick, masonry brick, wrought iron, vinyl, or aluminum. Fences cannot be made of cast-off, secondhand, or other items not originally intended to be fencing, plywood less than 5/8 inches thick, low-grade plywood, particle board, parer, foam board, plastic, tarps and similar materials, razor wire, and other dangerous materials, sheet metal, roll metal, corrugated metal, or concrete block.

The law says that residents can apply for a variance with the town Zoning Board of Appeals. Upon a showing of an unnecessary hardship, the Zoning Board of Appeals may grant the minimum variance necessary to grant relief from the hardship.