2. ARC-23-153 12 VIA VIZCAYA. The applicant, County Down Trust (Andrew W. Regan, Trustee), has filed an application requesting Architectural Commission review and approval for modifications to landscape and addition of a fence on a vacant parcel of land. 
Public Comment, Town of Palm Beach Admin
admin
over 1 year ago
Received via email 10.9.23:
Dear ARCOM Members,
We live within the Via Vizcaya neighborhood at 9 Via Vizcaya, and have been notified regarding the ARCOM applications for hardscape and landscape renovations submitted by our neighbors, the Clays, for their properties at 11 and 12 Via Vizcaya (ARC-23-152 & ARC-23-153, respectively). We have reviewed the plans for the hardscape and landscape changes, and would like to voice our concern with the choice of fence and gate material to be used along the north and south sides of the 5-foot neighborhood access easement between the two properties, which the neighborhood uses to access and view the Intracoastal Waterway. The proposed material for the 4-foot-high fence and two gates is black vinyl chain-link, and while this material for fencing (not gates) has been used successfully in the rear and sides of many properties in Town, ARCOM has always required that landscaping be used to completely screen the chain-link fencing from view by the neighbors. Because of the difficulty in completely screening the black vinyl chain link from view, we respectively request that the Clay’s remove the proposed fence from their plans, and replace the fence with a hedge along both sides of the access easement, with one hedge located on the 11 Via Vizcaya property and the being located on the 12 Via Vizcaya property. The hedge material will of course need to be installed outside of the access easement, and regularly maintained so that it does not encroach into the easement. By delineating the access easement on either side with a solid hedge material, the Clay’s will essentially be returning to how the access easement was previously delineated for many years, which is a look that has been acceptable to the neighborhood. In regards to the two access gates proposed, because they cannot be screened with hedging, we request that decorative black wrought aluminum or iron material be used. The black wrought aluminum or iron gates will provide the same openness that the black vinyl chain-link would provide, but is much more aesthetically pleasing and a more appropriate material given the fact that the gates will be viewable by the entire neighborhood whilst using the access easement. We feel these requests are extremely reasonable, consistent with past ARCOM approvals, and are appropriate for this situation and location. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Kim Bepler
9 Via Vizcaya
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email 10.9.23:
Dear ARCOM Members,
We live within the Via Vizcaya neighborhood at 9 Via Vizcaya, and have been notified regarding the ARCOM applications for hardscape and landscape renovations submitted by our neighbors, the Clays, for their properties at 11 and 12 Via Vizcaya (ARC-23-152 & ARC-23-153, respectively). We have reviewed the plans for the hardscape and landscape changes, and would like to voice our concern with the choice of fence and gate material to be used along the north and south sides of the 5-foot neighborhood access easement between the two properties, which the neighborhood uses to access and view the Intracoastal Waterway. The proposed material for the 4-foot-high fence and two gates is black vinyl chain-link, and while this material for fencing (not gates) has been used successfully in the rear and sides of many properties in Town, ARCOM has always required that landscaping be used to completely screen the chain-link fencing from view by the neighbors. Because of the difficulty in completely screening the black vinyl chain link from view, we respectively request that the Clay’s remove the proposed fence from their plans, and replace the fence with a hedge along both sides of the access easement, with one hedge located on the 11 Via Vizcaya property and the being located on the 12 Via Vizcaya property. The hedge material will of course need to be installed outside of the access easement, and regularly maintained so that it does not encroach into the easement. By delineating the access easement on either side with a solid hedge material, the Clay’s will essentially be returning to how the access easement was previously delineated for many years, which is a look that has been acceptable to the neighborhood. In regards to the two access gates proposed, because they cannot be screened with hedging, we request that decorative black wrought aluminum or iron material be used. The black wrought aluminum or iron gates will provide the same openness that the black vinyl chain-link would provide, but is much more aesthetically pleasing and a more appropriate material given the fact that the gates will be viewable by the entire neighborhood whilst using the access easement. We feel these requests are extremely reasonable, consistent with past ARCOM approvals, and are appropriate for this situation and location. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Kim Bepler
9 Via Vizcaya
Palm Beach, FL 33480