The Community Development Committee met 10/09/2024. They voted on three proposed text amendments to the Municipal Code. Similar to the Municipal Code text amendments voted on by the City Plan Commission these text amendments were, for the most part, not intended to increase the existing rules but rather to clarify the existing code and make sure it was clear and consistent.
The committee voted unanimously to approve all three items.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
AMENDMENTS TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 4 BUILDINGS, SECIOND 4-66(a) and (b) – These changes were intended to clarify what things require a permit to construct and specifically to make clear that fences are considered structures that need permits in order to be erected. Per Inspections Supervisor Kurt Craanen, “A structure is anything that’s permanently attached to the ground. Our code currently, just says we require a permit for buildings, but we do require, and always have required, permits for other things such as pergolas, you know, that are detached structures that are detached the ground. We do require permits for those, and we’re just cleaning that up in the in the code.”
AMENDMENTS TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 4 BUILDINGS, SECTION 4-241 – These changes clarify that fences need to be anchored at least 48” into the ground. Inspections Supervisor Craanen said that the code always required that fences had to meet wind loads so that they did not blow over. They have had some people try to put fences in by attaching them to concrete slabs with bolts, but normal construction standards would require that anything anchored to the ground should go past the frost line. Because they were bringing forward the other two text amendments, they decided to bring this request forward at the same time.
AMENDMENTS TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 4 BUILDINGS, SECTION 4-546(a) – These changes were aimed at making the code be consistent throughout in how they referred to fences.
The committee voted unanimously to approve each of the items.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1220806&GUID=6A1BE995-58C9-4FE4-B009-EB725FF743C2
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