A request by Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish to construct a six foot fence in his lakefront front yard goes before Evanston’s Zoning Board of Appeals tonight.
In his application for the variation for the property at 90-92 Kedzie St., Darvish has cited security concerns based on his celebrity, but some of his neighbors, whose homes front on Sheridan Road, say the fence would destroy the character of the neighborhood.
Scott Mangum, the city’s zoning administrator, rejected the variation request, saying the proposed fence would reduce views to the lake from the adjacent public park.
He added that it would not achieve goals of reducing noise, because it’s not a solid fence, wouldn’t screen the property from incompatible uses, becaue there are none, and that increased safety for the homeowner could be achieved with a fence in a zoning-compliant location.
Under the city zoning code, fences are generally required to be three feet back from the front face of a home.
Darvish has separately sought to purchase a strip of land in front of his home from the city to be able to make his front yard deeper. He’s also indicated plans to construct a new garage on the now-vacant lot at 92 Kedzie.
Last month the Preservation Commission recommended denial of the fence variation.
The ZBA meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at the Civic Center.
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Three strikes and you are out…
Another foul ball over the fence.
Of course they should be
Of course they should be permitted to build the fence. No doubt the majority are in favour of it. The community should extend a warm welcome to the newcomers.