07-22-2004 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Zoning Board of Adjustment

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Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lambert 3234 Andricks Road LaPorte, Texas 77571 (281) 542-1700 August 1, 2004. Dear Board of Adjustments: We are requesting a special exception to install a chain link fence in front and along one side of our front yard with a -double swinging gate over the driveway. When we purchased the house in 2000, a 3-fo6t-high wooden fence (See attachment: picture B #1) existed on the property approximately 10 feet in from the street.. The city refused to turn on our gas until we removed the fence because the gas company would be unable to read our gas meter, which was approximately.12 feet inside the fence. They also said the. Fire Department would be unable to get the fire engine to the house however, the driveway, 9'.54eet-wide, was open allowing access for emergency vehicles or a hose to be ran to the house. The nearest water hydrant is two houses down to' the east of us (picture E #4). . We were then told once removed, we had to reinstall the fence 25 feet in... .from the culvert (see existing partial fence: picture A #2) which left us with only 11 feet of yard inside the fence and 45 feet bf yard between the fence and the street. We can assuredly estimate that . at least two thirds of the -homes in our neighborhood have fences around the perimeter of their front yards. ' We would like to put up a fence because of our concerns for the safety of our four grandchildren ranging in age from 17-months to 6-years-old. We keep our grandchildren every week. They play in the front yard because our home is older and does not have a back door leading directly in. to the back yard. Also the back yard is smaller and does not have a porch with shade or windows to keep an eye on them because .of our home's layout. We are seriously concerned about neighborhood pets running loose, strangers, and the traffic on our street; most often exceeding the speed limit of 30 mph: The double gates across the driveway would remain unlocked allowing emergency vehicles access to our . property at all times. A sketch-and'supporting pictures are included with this request. . We would like to install the chain link fence adjacent to our neighbor's fence at 3230 Andricks Road. Our fence would be 5-feet-high, approximately 61 feet across including the double gates, 26 feet back on the west side of the house and 20 feet from the street. This .will align the two fences and would greatly reduce our safety concerns: Please- consider our request to: install a fence on our property allowing ample room for access to the house and utility meter. while meeting our family's need for safety., Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, The Lambert Family