Open space tops Highland initiative fights

HIGHLAND — The ballot for November's election in Highland became a lot bigger at a recent City Council meeting when members unanimously rejected three citizens initiatives, which by law now go to a public vote in the November general election.

In addition to choosing a new mayor and two council members, Highland residents will now be voting on the initiatives, which would create a water board to manage the city's water system, change the way the city's open space is landscaped and maintained, and allow residents more latitude concerning fences on their property.

Much of the attention and debate has centered on the open space and fencing initiatives, which sponsors say would work together to improve the city's beautification efforts and make them more cost-effective.

At the heart of the issue is the type of curbing the city uses to separate city-owned open space from private property. Initiative sponsors say the city's 14-inch deep curbing made from a combination of road base and concrete is too expensive and can be eliminated if the fence initiative passes.

"We felt if people had reasonable fence options, the city wouldn't need to delineate (use curbing)," said Ed Dennis, one of the sponsors for the open space and fence initiatives.

The present ordinance limits the types of fences homeowners can build along property lines that border city-owned open space. Fences currently are limited to 4 feet high if they are solid, or up to 6 feet high if they are at least 55 percent open. The initiative would allow residents to add an additional foot of lattice or picket fence on top of the 4-foot fences and allow for solid fences of up to 6 feet high in some places.

City officials fear taller fences will create alleyways along trails and become a danger to public safety. Sponsors say the current requirement that taller fences be at least 55 percent open limits privacy and makes fences more expensive.

"The city has managed to create a fence ordinance that is not only undesirable but more expensive . . . ," Dennis said. "They've made minor changes, but they haven't really addressed the issues of security and privacy adequately."

Giving homeowners more reasonable options for fences, Dennis argues, would eliminate the city's need for curbing along property lines because residents would do it for the city by installing fences.

The initiative would replace the curbs with small, 6-inch markers placed at the corners of city property.