(A) In addition to the height restrictions placed upon front yard fences and walls by § 23.42.040(B), no front yard fence or wall may be installed unless a permit for such fence or wall has been issued, as described herein, and unless it complies with the following standards:
(1) The fence or wall shall be constructed of materials other than smooth block, wire or chain link;
(2) The fence or wall shall not contain any points or ornamentation along its top;
(3) The fence or wall shall be architecturally compatible with the design and style of the house and any street side yard fence;
(4) If a fence or wall is being constructed on top of a retaining wall, that fence or wall shall not be constructed in a manner that obscures or blocks the view through more than 50% of the fence or wall.
(B) Anyone wishing to install a front yard fence or wall shall submit an application for a front yard fence permit, in a form to be approved by the Director of Community Development or his or her designee, which application shall include plans for the proposed fence or wall.
(1) The application, plans and designs shall be reviewed by the Design Review Board, which shall approve, conditionally approve or deny the application.
(2) No front yard fence or wall may be installed prior to Design Review Board approval.
(3) Appeals from a denial of the application shall be made to the Alhambra City Planning Commission, pursuant to Chapter 23.76 of this code.
(C) After approval by the Design Review Board, the Director of Community Development, or his or her designee, shall issue a permit for the approved fence or wall.
(D) Upon completion of construction of a permitted fence or wall, the Director of Community Development, or his or her designee, may inspect the fence or wall for conformity to the approved design. Any inconsistency between the approved design and the constructed fence or wall shall be corrected within 20 days of written notice of such inconsistency. If the inconsistency is not corrected, the permit shall be revoked and the fence or wall shall be deemed a nuisance and a violation of this code.
(E) All front yard fences and walls installed prior to the effective date of this section shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. Any alteration, modification or removal of such preexisting fence or wall shall render such fence or wall subject to the requirements of this section.
(Ord. 4345, passed 7-13-98; Am. Ord. 4500, passed 12-3-07; Am. Ord. 4735, passed 5-14-18)